Four Special Olympics swimmers achieved outstanding results during a swim meet last month hosted by the City of Barrie.

Claire Ann Beatty, Nancy Snider, Karen Maunder and Patrick Rice represented Muskoka at a Hometown Games swim meet involving 75 swimmers from Barrie, Newmarket, Collingwood and Midland on March 22.

Hometown Games is a concept designed to have towns and cities provide more competitions for Special Olympic athletes similar to the Nordic skiing Hometown Games sponsored by Gravenhurst earlier in February.

For five months each year, the Special Olympics Ontario – Muskoka swimming group practises weekly at Bracebridge Sportsplex. Carol Gonneau co-ordinates the swimming group for Special Olympics, while the 15 registered athletes were coached by Cathy Janke, assisted by Audrey Forth and Betty Bond.

The event’s divisioning is based on athlete qualifying times, age and sex.

Claire Ann Beatty earned three first-place finishes in the 25-metre, 50-metre and 100-metre freestyle, another first in the 100-metre backstroke and second place in the 50-metre backstroke.

Patrick Rice finished first in his 25-metre and 50-metre freestyle events and third in the 25-metre backstroke event.

Karen Maunder took first in her 50-metre freestyle division, second in the 25-metre freestyle and 25-metre and 100-metre backstroke, third place in the 100-metre freestyle event and fourth in the 50-metre backstroke.

Nancy Snider, who in 2007 qualified for the 2008 Ontario Provincial Games, won first in three events including the 50-metre and 100-metre freestyle and the 25-metre backstroke. She also placed second in the 200-metre backstroke, and third in the 25-metre freestyle and 50-metre backstroke.

When the provincial games are held in Oshawa May 29-31, Snider will be completing in the 25-, 50- and 100-metre freestyle, as well as the 50- and 100-metre backstroke events.