Riverview swimmer to make Olympic debut, Moncton Paralympian competes for 3rd time
Brooklyn Douthwright and Danielle Dorris qualify for 2024 Olympics this summer
In 2020, Brooklyn Douthwright narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympics.
Four years later, when the Riverview swimmer got set to race in the 100-metre freestyle at the Olympic trials in Toronto, her mother Shannon found it hard to watch.
Shannon says her daughter has always "had something different," and she's never nervous watching her, but this time she knew if she didn't make it, she would have to wait four years for another chance.
Douthwright, 21, placed third and cemented her place on the Canadian team. She is one of two swimmers from New Brunswick heading to Paris this summer.
She will make her Olympic debut, while Moncton's Danielle Dorris returns to compete at the Paralympics for the third time.
Dorris tied her own world record in the 50-metre butterfly at the trials and qualified yet again.
'Well worth the wait'
Douthwright is the first New Brunswick swimmer to qualify for the Olympics since Marianne Limpert in 2000.
She says getting to the Olympics has been her goal since she started swimming at the age of nine and says it's an incredible feeling to now be able to call herself an Olympian.
"I don't know if it's 100 per cent settled in, but being able to think that and say that out loud is definitely the best feeling."
Douthwright has fond memories of Limpert coming to one of her first swim meets and being amazed that there was an Olympian from New Brunswick. She got Limpert's autograph and took a photo with her.
"It was cool to see that somebody from New Brunswick was able to do that and definitely gave me a little bit more confidence that my goal was something that could actually be achieved."
Limpert will be cheering and is excited and proud to see Douthwright make the team.
"One of my goals was to inspire the other swimmers from New Brunswick," Limpert said. "So to finally have Brooklyn breakthrough — it's been 24 years but it was well worth the wait."
"I'm so excited for her and I know she's going to do great things this summer in Paris."
3rd time at Paralympics
Dorris qualified for her first Paralympics at the age of 13 but says she was so awestruck by her experience in Rio she doesn't remember any of it, and in 2021 she raced in Tokyo with no fans and no family there because of the pandemic.
"I'm coming in as a three-time vet, and I'm coming in with more confidence," Dorris said, adding this time around she plans to enjoy the full experience.
"This time in Paris, it's going to be a full-fledged games. There's going to be fans. My parents and my family are coming."
Eight other swimmers from New Brunswick also competed at the Olympic trials, something Swim New Brunswick's board president is proud of.
"It's an exciting year for swimming in New Brunswick. We've never had so many swimmers to be able to achieve that standard and to attend the Olympic trials," said Annie Robichaud.
"It just shows that swimming in New Brunswick is really doing very well."
Paris 2024 begins in July, with the Olympic swimming event starting on July 26 and the Paralympics beginning on Aug. 28.
Douthwright's advice to other budding Olympians is to choose a sport you love and to have fun.
"Enjoy being there and that's what's going to spark your love for the sport. That's what's going to keep you invested," Douthwright said.
"It's not going to feel like, 'Oh I have to go to the pool.' It's going to be, 'Yes, I get to go to the pool!' It just makes all the difference."
Olympic medallist Marianne Limpert has some advice of her own for Dorris and Douthwright.
"Have fun and if you're having fun, swimming fast will come all on its own."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
