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National team rookie 29th in Worlds debut

2017 FINA World Championships –

LAKE BALATON, HUNGARY – Breanne Siwicki got her first taste of senior team experience with a 29th place finish in the women’s 5-kilometre open water at the FINA World Championships.

It was only the Winnipeg native’s fourth open water race.

“It felt pretty good, I still have a lot of experience to gain. I’m really excited for my future in the open water. I’m very grateful to be here.” said Siwicki, who recently graduated from the University of Minnesota. “I need to train harder and get more experience in big packs.”

Siwicki qualified for the team at the FINA marathon swimming World Cup meet at Lac St. Jean, Quebec in 2016.

“When I was younger it was always a goal to make a senior national team. Sam Harding (former Canadian National Team member) motivated me to try open water. I trained really hard last summer with the goal to make this team.”

“When I was younger it was always a goal to make a senior national team. Sam Harding (former Canadian National Team member) motivated me to try open water. I trained really hard last summer with the goal to make this team.”

Siwicki overtook a handful of swimmers in the final stretch of the race to secure a place in the top 30.

“This has been an amazing experience. I’m so blessed to be here.”

Distance/Open Water Coach Mark Perry was pleased with the performance, and sees room for improvement.

“That was a good performance from Breanne. For someone so new to the sport, I know she has things to improve. She came out of the water and said she knew exactly what to do to get better. She wasn’t near the front of the race but we know what she needs to do to get to the front of the race next time.”

American Ashley Twichell won gold in the 5-km, while Aurelie Muller of France and Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil capture silver and bronze. Full results are available here: http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000111050002DA04FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01

The final open water race at the FINA World Championships takes place Thursday with the mixed 5-km team relay.

The World Championships are taking place in Budapest until July 30, and will be streamed live by CBC at http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/aquatics