The Nanaimo Diamonds are highly polished by this point in the season, so now is their time to shine.
The synchro swim team hosts the Jean Peters Provincial Synchronized Swim Meet from Friday through Sunday (May 13-15) at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre.
“You’re going to see some pretty strong teams. There’s going to be a wide range in every age group,” said Brenda Smythe, coach of the Diamonds.
The home team will have 17 athletes competing this weekend, making up a 16-18 team, a 13-15 team and a 12-and-under team. Other clubs from around the province are sending teams, trios, duets and soloists, but the Diamonds are hoping to capitalize on home-pool advantage.
“It gives all the swimmers a chance to be able to perform in their hometown, so it’s kind of nice,” Smythe said. “[Organizers] are working hard to host a really high-quality, professional-level meet for these swimmers so I think it’s going to be pretty exciting.”
Swimmers will compete in figures on Saturday morning, and the routines start at 2:25 p.m. that day. Diamonds teams start swimming for provincial titles Sunday between noon and 2:35 p.m.
The Diamonds’ higher-calibre national-stream swimmers are also participating this weekend with exhibition swims.
Canada Games athlete Meghan Dougan swims at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and the 16-18 national-stream Diamonds swim Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com