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27 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Siblings ready to take on the world in Rome By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The world swimming championships will be a family affair for the Russells. Sinead Russell will join her brother Colin at the worlds in Rome, which begin July 18, in what will be her first competition with Canada's senior national team. "For Colin, the first stepping stone toward the Olympics was the world championships in 2005," said Erin Russell, who coaches both her children. Colin went on to compete for Canada at last year's Olympics in Beijing and though he has experienced all that his sister is about to enjoy, he's trying not to influence her first worlds. "Right now, just take it all in," he said of the only advice he's passed on. "She's getting excited but I want her to experience it on her own -- through her own eyes instead of mine." Sinead said her brother has been helpful in giving her pep talks when she's feeling down. But there was no need for that sort of exchange following the world trials. Sinead took almost a full second off her own Canadian record for 15-17 year olds, winning the 100metre backstroke in 1:00.83. That also put her within half a second of the national senior record set at the Olympics by Julia Wilkinson, who Russell beat in Montreal. "I'm very excited," said Sinead Monday as she and her brother waited to board their flight to Rome. "I'm RUSSELLS OFF TO ROME: Colin and Sinead Russell getting to meet a lot of the people I've looked up to and have both qualified for the world swimming championships in Rome. Sinead will race in the 100m backstroke while Colin it's nice to get to know them." The 16-year-old also turned in a second-place finish will compete in the 200m freestyle as well as two relays. in the 50m backstroke after being edged by 12 onehundredths of a second by Gabrielle Soucisse. Colin earned his spot on the world team by winning the 200m freestyle comfortably, winning by more than a second in a time of 1:47.17. That was just off his time of 1:46.99 from last year's Olympic trials. That result even surprised the 25-year-old Olympic veteran. "My training (this year) wasn't as intense as it was leading up to the Olympics," he said. "The goal in was to maintain my speed rather than improve it. I wasn't expecting my best time but I got very close." Erin Russell said her son wasn't even wearing the fast suit he wore at the Olympics for the Canadian trials so there may still be room to improve upon his time. Russell also finished the 100m free in 48.92 seconds in a race won by Canadian record holder Brent 9 L O C A T I O N S Hayden in 48.16. He will swim both the 4x100m and 4x200m relays for Canada but having competed in multiple events before, he isn't worried about fatigue. "At a big event, it can be mentally tiring so I just try to look at the schedule day by day, try to get a good sleep and hope I'm able to do what I can to help the team." S E R V E Y O U B E T T E R ! WHY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS PAYING OVER 50% OFF THE PRICE OF YOUR NEW FURNACE & A/C $ * Cash Up to Back WAIT? T O AND GOV. CASH BACK UP TO UP TO UP TO UP TO $3580 + $1000 + $550 + $1350 MANUFACTURERS CASH BACK HYDRO CASH BACK TAX CREDIT *Call for details. Financing Available NO PAYMENT! NO INTEREST! FOR 6 MONTHS *OAC OVER 60,000 SATISFIED CUSTOMERS 6480 LIMITED TIME A+ Rating 9 Locations To Serve You Better! www.aireone.com 1-888-827-2665 905-849-4998