BLIGH Park Special Olympian Sandy Freeman will be swimming in The Sydney Morning Herald Sun Run and Cole Classic on February 2 and 3.
The now 23-year-old has been swimming since she was about four years old.
She has only recently begun to participate and compete in open water swims.
The Cole Classic will be Freeman’s last event before she travels to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for The Special Olympic World Games in March.
She wants to enjoy herself in this competition before she diverts all her attention to the World Games.
This is her second time competing in the historic event as last year she “did very well,” said Freeman’s mother, Carol.
“She came in the top five or six of her age group and was in the top 300 of the women ... which is very good.”
The Cole Classic is one of Australia’s most historic and famous ocean swim events.
This will be its 36th year and will see entrants taking to Manly’s refreshing ocean waters in 1km, 2km and 5km events.
They will start the race from Shelly Beach and finish in front of the Manly Life Saving Club.
Freeman is looking forward to the open water nature of the event.
She feels that, “the pool can be a bit lame.”
“The ocean is unpredictable and different.”
Freeman is looking toward more open water events as she looks to improve and get to higher and more challenging levels of the sport.
Freeman trains in the pool at Oasis Pool Windsor most days but only trains in open water once a week.
Her coach Steve Payne takes her to the Regatta Centre in Penrith.
Freeman is looking forward to the World Games as it will give her the chance to “make new friends and meet new people,” she said.
“It’ll be an opportunity to see some of my old friends.”
It’ll be her third World Games having previously set two world records in the 200-metre backstroke and the 4x100-metre freestyle relay.
She also competes in the 800-metre freestyle and the 4x100-metre medley.
Freeman came in first when she competed in the 1500-metre lake swim at the World Games.
In doing this she became the first female to represent Australia in an open water event at the World Games.
Freeman said, “I will be completing sprints and time trials a lot in my training.”
This will be in preparation for the World Games.
“It will be the best way for me to try and get my times down.”
“I really just want to do my best and have fun.”
Finn Coleman
I understand the importance of community news in highlighting stories that members of local communities care about - including events, businesses, sports and the people that make towns unique. Email me at finn.coleman@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0437 550 909
I understand the importance of community news in highlighting stories that members of local communities care about - including events, businesses, sports and the people that make towns unique. Email me at finn.coleman@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0437 550 909
