General Vanier Grade 10 student Joseph Grady won gold in the 50-metre junior freestyle and 50-metre junior butterfly events at the recent EOSSAA swim meet in Amherstview.

PHOTO CREDIT - GVIS

Cornwall - Feb. 23, 2011 - Fifteen-year-old General Vanier Intermediate School student Joseph Grady is quickly making a name for himself in high school swimming.

The Grade 10 student recently swam his way to two gold medals at the EOSSAA regional swim meet in Amherstview - in just his first year of high school swimming.

Grady took first in the 50-metre junior freestyle and 50-metre junior butterfly events, and he bested his nearest rival in the freestyle event by more than one second – something rarely seen in high school swimming.

The double gold performance also gained him a berth at OFSAA (the provincial high school championships) this spring.

"This is a big deal," said GVIS swim coach Jennifer Suggers of Grady's success. "This is only the second year that our school has had a team and we already have EOSSAA gold."

"I was really happy and excited for Joe. He really wanted to go to OFSAA and when he qualified in the 50 metre freestyle I said he could relax and enjoy the rest of his day. But he really pushed himself because he really wanted gold again."

Grady won the freestyle in a time of 29.49 seconds, while his butterfly time was an impressive 35.91 seconds.

"I was pretty excited and I didn’t really expect it," said a humble Grady of his two medals. "Most kids come from the competitive swimming community and I didn't really have much experience."

An all-around athlete, Grady also plays hockey for the Cornwall Colts minor midget B squad and plays centre on the school basketball team. He also finds time to play guitar and saxophone with school bands.

Another GVIS swimmer to enjoy success at the meet was Shelby McLean, who placed third overall in the junior girls division.