Newmarket's Caleb Arndt is among 13 athletes nominated to this summer's Lima 2019 Parapan American Games team.
Swimming Canada made the announcement of the first nominations for selection to the team following the conclusion of the Canadian Swimming Trials in Toronto last weekend.
Arndt, 16, is a member of the W. Ross Macdonald Swimming (WRMS) club, coached by Mike Finch.
Also nominated from York Region is Michelle Tovizi, 19, coached by Eddie Toro.
The swimmers selected to participate in the competition taking place in Lima Aug. 23 to Sept. 1 will join the developmental team, most from Swimming Canada's NextGen program, and will be experiencing their first Games situation. For many, it will be the first step toward competing at the 2020 or 2024 Paralympic Games, according to a news release.
"Congratulations to the athletes selected to represent Canada this summer," said Catherine Gosselin-Després, executive director of sport, Canadian Paralympic Committee. "Canada is home to many talented Para swimmers, and the Parapan Am Games will be a fantastic opportunity for many of our young athletes to gain important international experience in a big multi-sport Games environment."
"It's very exciting. We have so much time from now until the Games to prepare these athletes," said Lima head coach Michel Berube, who is Swimming Canada's NextGen & Pathways coach, Para swimming.
Berube expects the team will do well in Lima.
"I would say the next generation of swimmers will be very successful," he said. "It's a matter of making sure these swimmers will grow and I'm very confident they will."
The Lima 2019 Parapan American Games will take over Toronto2015 as the largest Parapan Am Games ever with a record 1,850 athletes set to participate. Canada is expecting to send a team of approximately 144 athletes in 13 sports.
The Canadian Paralympic Committee will announce the official full team heading to the Games later this year.
