Penticton competitive swimmer Hannah Rutten, 15 is competing at the Olympic trials in Montreal in May.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Pamela Rutten
January 04, 2024 - 7:00 PM
A 15-year-old Penticton competitive swimmer is heading to the Olympic trials.
Hannah Rutten qualified for the provincial, western, national and Olympic trial competitions this year, a schedule that will take her around the country.
“She puts her heart and soul into swimming and trains incredibly hard every day,” her mom Pamela Rutten said.
Hannah has been swimming since she was five years old and this is her 10th year with the KISU Swim Club Penticton. She has qualified to compete in the provincial meets since was nine years old. This is the first time she will competing in the Olympic trials which take place in Montreal in May.
She qualified with her backstroke and distance swim times.
“The Olympic swim team is chosen at the trials but that isn’t Hannah’s goal this year, she’s only 15,” Pamela said. “Her goal for trials is for the experience, to see who is there, to get some best times or not and see what the possibilities are for the future.”
There are national teams at the trials and a chance for Hannah to qualify for one, depending on her times. She is the youngest age she can be chosen for a national team.
Pamela said there are a few other girls on the Penticton swim team who have made the nationals and are also trying to qualify for the Olympic trials.
“They feed off each other and really push each other hard," she said. “There’s a lot of camaraderie and team travel, and they go with chaperons and a coach to events and they have to support each other.”
Hannah manages an intense training schedule.
“They train 10 months a year or 11 if you make it all the way to nationals,” she said. “They're getting warmed up for an intense competition season that starts in March. It takes a lot of hard work and effort... and you grow a lot, there are a lot of life lessons involved for sure.”
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The young swimmer will be going to a provincial meet in Victoria in March, to western Canadian championships in Winnipeg at the end of that month, trials in Montreal in May and the junior nationals in Toronto later in the year.
“Sometimes there are harder training and competition days but she keeps going and keeps trying.”
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Pamela and Hannah collect cans and bottles from the community to help fun her travels.
“We understand it's a hard time for a lot of people and super appreciate any support,” Pamela said.
Anyone who wishes to donate can reach out to Pamela here.
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