Roxon makes Canadian World's team

Swimmer Katarina Roxon didn't let a sore shoulder get the best of her recently, pushing through pain to win a spot on the Canadian 2010 World Championship swim team.

Ms. Roxon, who is a swimmer with a disability, attended the 2010 Para Can-Ams in San Antonio Texas in March where she placed second in the 100m Breast Stroke and the 200 IM.

She said she felt great heading into the world championship trials, but that a sore shoulder led to her scratching from one event and placing fourth in several others.

"I felt great going into the meet but after a few days of being there my shoulder started to hurt," she said. "We were thinking it was probably from carrying all of my luggage and I must have slept really weird or something."

She said her coach and dad, Leonard Roxon, was able to help with the pain.

"My dad is a physiotherapist, so he would fix my shoulder up every time I'd get in the water. I'd do my warm up - he'd fix my shoulder; I'd do a race - he'd fix my shoulder; I'd do my warm down - he'd fix my shoulder. That was pretty much our routine," she said. "He's a really good physiotherapist."

With a spot on the World team earned, Ms. Roxon will now turn her attention to her next main event - the International Paralympic Committee's World Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands this August.

"I'm super excited," she said, "This will be my second Worlds, so I kind of get a feeling for what everything feels like now. But it's still pretty exciting going into the meet."

She said her goal is to set a personal best time, and to win a medal.

"If I win a medal, it means that Canada will get a spot for the Paralympics for 2012 - every person who gets either a silver or gold wins a spot for Canada," she said.

"I'm not saying I'll get the spot, but it gives Canada a spot."

reporter@thegeorgian.ca