>> Courtney Brown in Sync in the Pool: Markham Resident is Second Year of National Team

York Region Era Banner
May 30, 2006

Courtney Brown says you gotta have heart.

In the 17-year-old Markham native's case, possessing that inner drive has enabled her to have a successful career thus far in synchronized swimming.

For the second straight year, Brown was recently selected to be a member of the Canadian junior synchronized swim team.

Training with the Olympium Synchro Club, Brown earned a berth on the team after giving a stellar effort at the recent Canadian Open championships in Winnipeg .

With some 147 athletes from across Canada in attendance at the meet, Brown noted there were two phases of auditions where potential candidates were whittled down to 30 and from that number, the final 10 were chosen.

Even with a large gathering of performers on hand, Brown remained confident she could make the roster.

“There are no guarantees on making the team because it matters how you performed on that given day. I knew I had to stay focused on what I wanted to achieve and keep a positive attitude,” she said.

In making the team, Brown feels its the ultimate in her blossoming career in the pool. It's also given her a feeling of self satisfaction and a sense of national pride.

“Ever since I was young, this has been a goal of mine, to be on a national team. There is no other feeling like working so hard towards a goal, putting your heart into it and then completing it.

“Last year our junior national team placed first at the Junior Pan-American Games and listening to the Canadian national anthem, standing on the podium with my teammates is one of the most memorable moments,” she said.

Adding significance to being on the team this year, she said, is that they will be going to Guangzhou , China this fall to compete in the Junior World Championships.

Introduced to the sport through a friend when she was just nine years old, Brown launched her synchronized career with the Markham Synchro Club before going to the Optima Synchro Club in Scarborough and then moving two years ago to her present Olympium team in Etobicoke.

A Grade 12 student at Silverthorn Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke, Brown hopes her appearance with the junior national team will serve as a springboard towards making the national A team. And with that, a possible entry into the Olympics.