Over 400 athletes, trainers and coaches landed in Manchester, England this week to compete in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. This large contingent includes 15 Varsity Blues (13 athletes and two coaches), all vying for international glory.
“The athletics department is always looking for the best,” said U of T swim coach and CBC commentator Byron Macdonald. “It is sometimes hard to compete for athletes with [schools in the] States because they have money and can offer scholarships to attract people.”
Two athletes who are sure to find success at the games are swimmers Elizabeth Warden (200-metre individual medley, 200-metre backstroke, and 400-metre individual medley) and Jennifer Button (100-metre butterfly). “It says a lot about varsity sports to have so many U of T students at the games,” said Warden in a telephone interview from the athletes’ village. “It shows that the school is really committed to sports.” Both Button and Warden have enjoyed success in past international competitions. Button set a Canadian record on her way to a strong second-place finish in the 2000 World Cup (200-metre butterfly), while Warden won three gold medals at the Commonwealth trials this year and was a silver medallist at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia. “My expectations at these games are higher because of the success I had at the trials in March,” said Warden. “Strength training has helped me become a lot stronger and sprint faster, which helped me get the times I did at the trials.”
Other U of T medal hopefuls in Manchester include: Emily Rix and Deb Cuthbert (field hockey), Sharon Butler (netball), Patrick Vanplew (shooting), Craig Hutchinson (swimming), Melanie Jans (squash), Claire Carver-Dias and Fanny Letourneau (synchronized swimming). Joining them are three members of the track and field squad: Lami Oyewumi, Althea Williams, and Foy Williams.
Deb Cuthbert and Foy Williams, along with Liz Warden, have all received Canadian Inter-university Player of the Year honours during their careers.
Coach Macdonald was quick to point out that these athletes’ achievements have had nothing but a positive impact on sports at U of T.
“Because of the success of Liz Warden and others, we were able to convince promising athletes to come to the school, including a young swimmer from Uxbridge.”
The seventeenth edition of the Commonwealth Games runs from July 25 to August 4, with 72 nations competing for spots on the podium. CBC television will broadcast the games daily.
