Coquitlam swimmer Andy Cho struck gold at the AAA swim provincials in Victoria this month.
The Summit middle student took six gold medals and two silvers, a showing that will allow him to move on to the national competition later this year.
“Winning all these medals is an honour,” he told The Tri-City News in an email. “I feel privileged to be able to achieve such awards.”
In Victoria, Cho took gold in the 100 m, the 200 m and 1500 m freestyle along with the 200 m and 400 m individual medleys. He won another gold in the 200 m butterfly, while taking silver in the 50 freestyle and 200 m breastroke.
But Cho acknowledged that he is in for a tough test at nationals.
He said he will be competing against some stronger swimmers that are older and more experienced, which will make it difficult for him to reach the podium.
But he added that the competition will be a learning experience.
“I will be racing against swimmers that are a full year older than me and it will be tough to be able to place in the Top 3,” he said. “I do have my focus on next year as I will have a much higher chance to medal at nationals.”
Cho has been swimming since he was five, but said in the last few years he has taken his sport to a new level.
He broke three provincial records two years ago during the B.C. Summer Swim Association provincial championship and last May he etched his name in the record books two more times during winter swimming season in the 11 to 12 age category.
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