Thompson-Okanagan swimmers win multiple medals

Thirteen-year-old swimmer Joe Byram from Thompson-Okanangan zone won three medals-two gold and one bronze-on the first day of competition at the 2008 BC Winter Games in Cranbrook. Byram, a member of the Vernon Kokanees swim team since 2006, spends over 20 hours a week working to improve his times. He hopes his time and dedication to the sport will pay off in Olympic gold in the near future.

"Swimming has taken lots of my time away from other activities but it is definitely worth it," said Byram before the Games.

Steven Linemayr and Sarah Francis from the Thompson-Okanagan Special Olymics team were also multiple medal winners, collecting three medals each.

The Thompson-Okanagan zone team fared very well on the first day of competition. Both the girls' and boys' teams from Thompson-Okanagan scored the highest point totals, earning 409 points for the girls' team and 485 points for the boys. However, with 14 medals, they trail behind the Vancouver Island-Central Coast zone, which collected 16 medals.

Swimming continues Saturday and Sunday.

Photo - Medalists in the Boys 200 SC Metre backstroke (L to R): Liam Cochrane from Vancouver Island-Central Coast (silver), Joe Byram and Kosta Prodanovic from from Thompson Okanagan (gold and bronze).