MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- Moose Jaw’s Leo Zheng picked up a handful of first-place finishes at the Speedo Canadian Swimming Championship in Toronto this past week, continuing what has been a stellar season for the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Flying Fins competitor.
Competing in the Para swimming S6 division, Zheng posted the top finish in three of his six races while duelling Marian Barbu from St-Eustache, Que.
Zheng, 17, put together his best showing of the meet in his final event, touching the wall in 1:30.06 in the 100m backstroke to record 605 points and finish fourth out of all swimmers. Para events at nationals featured different classes in the pool together, making Zheng’s fourth-overall finish even more impressive.
Zheng also took first place in S6 in the 400m freestyle, with his time of 6:18.74 good enough for 571 points and 10th overall, while his 200m individual medley time of 3:49.43 also bested Barbu with 410 points, 15th overall.
Zheng was also second in the 100m breast (2:01.62, 355 points, 15th overall), 50m free (37.37, 566 points, 17th overall) and 100m free (1:23.93, 529 points, 21st overall).
Barbu had an outstanding showing in the 100m free, touching the wall in 1:15.58 to set a new national record in the S6 class.
Zheng himself is the Canadian Para swimming record holder in the 400m individual medley, having set the national mark of 8:44.19 at the Michelle Moore Invitational in Regina during the May 10 weekend.
Zheng also lit up the pool at the Man Sask Championship last month, winning seven gold medals and the Philip Clark Award as the top male para swimmer.
