THUNDER BAY – This past weekend 4 female ThunderBolt swimmers, Lindsay Puhalski, Isabel Harri, Zoe Hunt and Jamie Puhalski travelled to Toronto to compete in the 2019 Summer Ontario Swimming Championships. There were 77 teams at this swim meet where the best 14 and older swimmers competed. The ThunderBolts place 12th in women’s category and 24th overall.
The 100 m Backstroke World Champion and World Record holder Kylee Masse was one of the athletes competing this weekend. “I was super excited to be in the 100 m Backstroke final against Kylie Masse,” said ThunderBolt Lindsay Puhalski. “The quality of swimmers at this swim meet was really high,” added Puhalski.
“I am very satisfied with our results this weekend. Our athletes competed hard”, stated head coach Tommaso Panizza. “It was fantastic that Lindsay and Isabel reached the podium!”
Lindsay Puhalski, aged 17 years old, won gold in the 400 m Individual Medley in a time of 4:55.82. “I am most proud of getting gold in the 400 m Individual Medley and getting a personal best time in the 100 m Freestyle,” said Lindsay Puhalski. “We also got to swim a number of relays as a team which we don’t get to do often. We swam some of our fastest times as a team,” added Puhalski.
Puhalski‘s teammate Isabel Harri, also excelled in the pool and won two silver medals in the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events.
“I was really really happy with my breaststroke swims, reaching the podium and qualifying for Senior Swim Nationals,” stated an excited Isabel Harri. “Swim meets like this push me hard to do my best. I am really looking forward to next year to build on my successes,” added Harri.
“The ThunderBolts have done well this year with some outstanding individual performances. I am looking forward to some changes in the ThunderBolt program next year. I believe there is a lot of potential in the ThunderBolt swimmers. I am really looking forward to the future and what we can achieve as a club,” added Coach Panizza.
