McMenemy swims at Youth Olympic Games
Senior Dorian McMenemy swam for the Dominican Republic in the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games this past August, competing in the 50 meter and 100 meter butterfly races.
McMenemy finished 15th overall in the 50 meter butterfly with a time of 27.96 seconds. She placed 28th in the 100 meter fly with a time of 104.71.
Her 50 meter butterfly time was both a national and age group record for the Dominican Republic. McMenemy was also the first Dominican swimmer to qualify for the semi-finals in a major national swimming event.
“There was a lot of excitement and that made me proud of my accomplishment,” McMenemy said.
McMenemy had experience on the international stage before; she also competed in the 2012 London Olympics, racing in the 100 meter butterfly and finishing 41st in her heat with a time of 1:05.78.
This was also not McMenemy’s first record for the Dominican Republic. In fact she holds four records, her first one set when she was only 14 years old.
Though she only joined the Algonquin swim team last year, McMenemy has also found success swimming for the T-Hawks. Last year at the MIAA Division 1 State Championships, which took place at MIT, she finished first in both the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events. She tied the state record for fastest time in the 50 meter freestyle, finishing with a time of 23.76 seconds.
“My goal is to win a team state championship,” McMenemy said. “Individually, I want to repeat as a state champion in the two events and to be an All-American. I would also like to break more of the school records.”
In the past year coach Jean Fedak has watched McMenemy grow as a swimmer and as a person.
“She is a role model for her teammates and is an athlete who leads by example,” Fedak said. “Whether swimming in a local high school meet, a regional or national meet for her club team, or the London Olympics, the Barcelona and Shanghai World Championships, or this summer’s World Youth Olympics, [she] continues to gain strength and confidence as a swimmer.”
Senior Dorian McMenemy competed at the Youth Olympics
McMenemy has many aspirations for her career, hoping to continue competing at the highest level of competition. She wants to swim at a Division 1 college and qualify for the NCAA tournament. However, her ultimate goal is to swim in the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
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Sam Piotrowski began as a staff writer in his sophomore year. He became Sports Editor in his junior year and continues with his position into his senior...
