Zona named Para Swimmer of the Year

By Darryl G. Smart

It’s no secret that 2019 was a great one for Waterford’s Zach Zona.

Last week, during the Ontario Swimming Championships in Etobicoke, the long-time Norfolk Hammerhead was named the 2019 Swim Ontario Para Swimmer of the Year.

Among his accomplishments during 2019, Zona, who now swims out of the high performance centre in Montreal, broke the S8 Para World Record in the 800m freestyle event. And at the 2019 Para World Swimming Championships, Zona set a new World Record in the 800m freestyle 9:39.48 at the International de Noel meet hosted by Neptune Natation.

His coach Mike Thompson, was also named Top Male Para Swimmer Coach of the Year.

Besides picking up the Swimmer of the Year Award, Zona was also in the pool, picking up more hardware.

At the Ontario Swimming Championships last week in Etobicoke, Zona picked up a silver and bronze medal, while Norfolk Hammerheads’ Hannah Ward earned a bronze, while adding a silver medal at the Ontario Youth Swimming Championships, also in Etobicoke.

LOCAL RESULTS

Ontario Swimming Championships

Hannah Ward

Girls 15 50m freestyle, seventh, 27.47

Girls 15 200m freestyle, seventh, 2:08.01

Girls 15 100m freestyle, third, 58.23

Zach Zona

Men’s 400m para S6-S13 freestyle, second, 4:53.29

Men’s 100m para S8-S14 butterfly, third, 1:10.86

Men’s 100m para SB4-S14 breaststroke, fourth, 1:36.24

Men’s 200m para SM5-S14 Individual Medley, fourth, 2:54.90

Sean Anderson, Oliver Godelle, and Elly Vendermeer also participated.

Ontario Youth Swimming Championships

Femke Backx

Girls 16-and-over 50m freestyle, sixth, 27.98

Hannah Ward

Girls 15 400m freestyle, seventh, 4:44.50

Girls 15 200m Individual Medley, second, 2:29.70

Oliver Godelle, Elly Vandermeer, Sean Anderson, and Emilia Veri also participated.