A Chatham-Kent swimmer is getting a crack at heading to the Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Madison Broad will be competing in trials for the 50 m, 100 m and 200 m backstroke events. "I'm very close in the 50 back. I'm actually 18 out of 60 people," says Broad.
The 14-year-old calls the chance to swim in the Pan Am Games a big opportunity. "I am very nervous, but I take that nervousness and I turn it into excitement so that I don't psych myself out," says Broad. "This is really big. I'm very excited. It takes a lot of effort to get here and I'm really proud of myself."
The trials run April 1-4 in Scarborough where Broad is excited to see Canadian Olympic silver and bronze medal swimmer Ryan Cochrane. "He does the long distance events and those are really hard to do," says Broad. "I'm looking up to him."
The Pan Am Games runs from July 10-26, followed by the Parapan Am Games August 7-15.