Windsor swimmer wins 6 medals at World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships

Julia Lane set the world of para swimming alight with her display at this year's World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Portugal.

Of the seven medals won by Canadian swimmers from Oct. 17 to 22, the Windsor athlete won six.

Lane captured gold in the 50-metre and 100-metre butterfly events, silver in the 50-metre freestyle, and bronze in the 100-metre, 200-metre and 800-metre freestyle events. And the 22-year-old was the only female Canadian swimmer to make the podium.

"I am proud of my times and how I represented Canada," she said.

Lane is also proud of representing Windsor on the international stage.

"This is my home," she said. "I joined a swimming club here. I train here."

Lane caught the swimming bug after watching her sister swim when she was younger. Her career began in 2014 with private coaching Jodi Cortese of the Windsor Aquatic Club.

She then joined the LaSalle Windsor Special Olympics swim team, a program she still participates in alongside swimming with the Windsor Aquatic Club as a para swimmer. Her mother, Cynthia, who is also the president of the Canadian Down Syndrome Swimming Association, said her career has been supported by herself and her husband, Brian.

"We've basically built a team to support Julia," Cynthia said. "From the nutritionist to the swim practices and private coaching. We got her engaged in CrossFit to make her stronger just so she'd have that opportunity at the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships."

Brian's and Cynthia's determination to see Julia succeed saw them create a GoFundMe page that raised $3,825. Cynthia said the support was very humbling.

"It was very touching that everybody wanted to give what they could in her efforts to make it to the podium."

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