Dubai: Dubai-based swimmer Lianna Swan looks set for Pakistan national team selection ahead of next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, after winning nine gold medals and three silver medals at the Pakistan National Championships in Islamabad last week.
As well as a selection trial for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games from July 23 to August 3, the three-day event also served as a trial for the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, from August 16 to 28, and the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, from September 19 to October 4.
Swan, 17, who trains locally with Hamilton Aquatics between studies at Jumeirah College, won six individual gold medals in the 50 metre, 100m and 200m breaststroke, the 100m and 200m backstroke and the 200m individual medley.
She also won team gold medals in the 4x100m, 4x200m freestyle relay and the 4x100m individual medley relay, as well as individual silver medals in the 50m, 100m freestyle and 50m backstroke.
She also broke national records in the 50m breaststroke (37.11) and 200m backstroke (2:37.71), and personal bests in the 50m freestyle (29.26) and the 50m backstroke (33.50).
Swan’s coach Chris Tidey congratulated his student on her performance and tipped her for a deserved Commonwealth Games call-up.
“Lianna has done very well swimming in such a heavy programme over three days,” he said. “She has been training hard while preparing for her final exams. Hopefully the selection board in Pakistan will choose to take her to Glasgow, she has certainly made a very strong case for it.”
Meanwhile, Swan’s mother Nadia said her daughter’s achievements in the pool were even more impressive given her need to balance swimming with school.
“I’m even proud of her on this particular occasion because she’s been juggling her first year of sixth form with swimming and is doing really well in both,” she said. “I’m really proud with what she has done under the circumstances. It was asking a lot to do that many races over three days but she did really well.”
The Pakistan Swimming Federation have yet to announce their Commonwealth Games squad, but Swan revealed she would be waiting by the phone. “It would be an amazing experience to be there and be part of it,” she said. “So I hope I’ve done well enough to make the Pakistan team.”
