The Victor Davis Memorial Bursary has been awarded to someone who not only has personal ties to the swimming legend himself, but also has family roots in this area.
Jeffrey Swanston, 17, of Newmarket was one of six Canadian swimmers to win the honour at last month’s Canada Cup of Swimming in Toronto. The award was handed out by Mel Davis, father of late Olympic champion Victor Davis.
“Winning this bursary was great,” Swanston said. “Victor Davis was very important to my family and I’ve heard stories about him, so it’s a real privilege to win an honour in his name.”
Swanston, whose family has long-standing ties to the Rockwood area, is Canada’s top rated junior backstroke competitor and took home sixth place in the Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru this summer.
The $1,500 bursary is presented annually to young aspiring swimming competitors to help support their Olympic dreams.
“It’s an honour for your hard work to be recognized,” Swanston said. “Plus a bursary to help with your training needs.”
Swanston competes locally, nationally and internationally and plans to train in Mexico over the Christmas holidays. He says the money will go to support his training.
“This bursary will help me to reach my dreams,” he said.
Swanston’s future goals include vying for a spot on Canada’s Olympic team. “The 2012 Olympic trials are this spring and I am trying to find my way on to the Olympic team, if not for this year, then hopefully for the 2016 or 2020 Olympics.”
He has also been awarded a scholarship to the University of Southern California next September.
Swanston’s father Alan, formerly of Rockwood, swam with Davis. Today he coaches the Newmarket Stingrays, where his son now competes. This award, also won by his son Matthew in 2006, has special meaning.
“It’s one more connection to Victor,” Alan said. “I am very blessed to have competed with him nationally and have competed internationally with him … it was one of the best times of my life.”
