The BC Summer Swimming Association is hosting the 65th annual Provincial Championship Meet from Aug. 14-20 at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre. The public is welcome to come and watch. (submitted, BCSSA)

By Jordan Davidson

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NANAIMO — The top swimmers from around the province will be in Nanaimo this week, for the 65th annual provincial championship meet, put on by the BC Summer Swimming Association (BCSSA).

Provincial swimming takes place from Aug. 14-20 and will occupy the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre (NAC)

Provincial office manager for the BCSSA Natalie Baxter said this meet will feature approximately 2,200 athletes and coaches from across B.C.

“They’re the best of their region, and then they compete at provincials to be the best in the province….the ages range from 6 years old to having adults swim with us as well.”

Nanaimo will be represented well, with over 100 athletes from the Nanaimo White Rapids Swim Club competing, with some in more than one competition.

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The Nanaimo White Rapids Swim Club will have representatives in water polo and artistic swimming for the first time at this year’s provincials. (submitted, BCSSA)

“We have our diving competition on Monday evening and Tuesday. Artistic swimming is Tuesday evening,” said Baxter. “Wednesday and Thursday is our water polo competition, and then Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is our speed swimming competitions.”

This event is the largest annual sprint meet in Canada and the culmination of eight regional qualifying meets.

Baxter said this is the final competition of the year for the BCSSA, but the athletes can still go a lot further in the world of competitive swimming.

“A lot of our swimmers that are very high up and very fast swimmers, they go on to swim with Swim BC, which is sort of the first step towards being part of the Olympics. We have a lot of alumni that started with BCSSA and ended up at the Olympics.”

This is the first time the provincial competition has been held in Nanaimo since 2012, and the public is welcome to come and watch the action free of charge. During the busier races Friday through Sunday, spectators will only be allowed to watch a match or two in order to allow everyone to get a chance to take in the action.

Food trucks will also be available on-site.

The pool will be closed to the public during this time. The weight room will still be open, and Beban pool will be open with limited availability.

More information can be found here at bcsummerswimming.com, or click here to follow the White Rapids Swim Club on Facebook.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow