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24 + WATERLOO CHRONICLE * Wednesday, April 2, 2008 Local swimmers get their last shot to qualify for the Olympic Games On their mark th a trip to Beijing on the line, 12 Wocal swimmers will head to Monâ€" treal to compete for a spot on the national swim team this week. In one of the strongest groups of qualiâ€" fiers the country has ever seen, competitors from the Region of Waterloo swim club will be in tough, said coach Dean Boles. "It‘s a great accomplishment to just be competing at the trials. Of 20,000 swimmers in the country, only 600 get the chance. That‘s a pretty low percentage" said Boles. Boles said he hopes the club places swimmers in the top 16 of their events, but there are some storylines that could turn into something special for the local club â€" and hopefully the country. Keith Beavers knows what it takes to make the Olympic team. _ In 2004, Beavers was part of the Canadian team that didn‘t make the podium in Athens. He‘s hoping to have a part in changing that this time around. Beavers figures he‘s got a good shot at making the Olympic team and his recent results support that opinion. "I‘ve had good times in previous compeâ€" titions and I‘m ready to swim my fastest at the trial. 1 think I‘m coming on at the right time," he said. The 25â€"yearâ€"old said that he‘s focused solely on swimming for the past two years, so he‘s hoping to improve his results if he heads to China this summer. "I think a medal really is a long shot," he said. "But 1 definitely want to finish in the top eight. That was my goal last time but I finished 12th and 16th." And while he might not be on the podiâ€" um, Beavers will be good for the national team, Boles said. "(Beavers) is rock solid," the coach said. "He has great experience from the 2004 Olympics and international experience that should help them out." The Comeback A year ago, Matt Mains was drier than Salt Lake City on Easter. â€" After having back surgery to repair two herniated discs, Mains was barred from the pool so he could fully recover. _______ _ _ "There were four or five months where I had no real swimming. It was real tough," he said. "I‘d come in and watch everyone practice and want to be in there. It was hard not EatRight Ontario â€" ontario.ca/eatright By Grec MaCDoONALD Chronicle Staff The Sure Thing Call 1â€"877â€"510â€"510â€"2 and talk to a Registered Dietitian for free. NAVRVNNLIINRFRNN LLRPYAT The Region of Waterloo Swim Club‘s Keith Beavers leads a strong contingent of local swimmer looking to qualify for this summer‘s Olympic Games in Beijing. swimming." But the 26â€"yearâ€"old had no choice but to watch. "My options were to have the surgery SPORTS then and make a push for the Olympics now or suffer permanent nerve damage," he saxd So Mains went under the knife in late 2006 and sat poolside. Paid for by the Government of Ontario GREG MACDONALD PHOTO But now he‘s back in time for his third Olympic qualifier and hoping he can take the next step. e â€" "My pmbaration has been good and I‘ve had good results," he said. _ "The men‘s breast stroke is a tough comâ€" petition, but Matt is a tough, tough guy," Boles said. "He has a big challenge but he‘s made quite a comeback." So will the third time be a charm? "That‘s what I‘m hoping," Mains said. The Long Shot Monique Begy is in a unique situation for a 14â€"yearâ€"old. â€" h 8 The Grade 9 student will be one of the youngest competitors at the event. â€" She surprised the swimming community, her coaches and herself by registering a swimâ€"club record time in the 100 metre backstroke at the provincial junior champiâ€" onships in March. Begy isn‘t expected to make the team this year, but the experience will be invaluable down the road, her coaches said. "When you‘re younger, everyone has a litâ€" tle dream about going to the Olympics. But then at around 10 or 12 realize there are a lot of people who are faster than you," Begy said. * While it seems Beavers might be the only swimmer from the club that will make the team, anything can happen, Boles said. _ "I never expected to be as far as I am today." "You just have to make sure you‘ve done all the preparation possible and do your "Nothing is ever guaranteed. On any day, any healthy swimmer can be on their game and win," he said. "There was four or five months where I had no real swimming. It was real tough. I‘d come in and watch everyone practice and want to be in there. It was hard not swimming." â€" Matt Mains Recovering swimmer Ontario