Athletes take part in a swimming competition May 5, 2012, during Warrior Games 2012 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Val Gempis)
Tech. Sgt. Marc Esposito (far left) and other athletes stand at attention May 5, 2012, during a medal ceremony of the swimming competitions of Warrior Games 2012 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Esposito is with the Special Operations Command team. (U.S. Air Force photo/Val Gempis)
First Lt. Ryan McGuire swims toward the finish line May 5, 2012, during Warrior Games 2012 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. McGuire is with the Air Force team. (U.S. Air Force photo/Val Gempis)
Tech. Sgt. Katie Robinson (center) looks at her time after finshing a heat May 5, 2012, during swimming competitions at Warrior Games 2012 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Robinson is with the Air Force team. (U.S. Air Force photo/Val Gempis)
The crowd cheers as athletes take part in a swimming competition May 5, 2012, during Warrior Games 2012 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Val Gempis)
by Tech. Sgt. Mareshah Haynes
Defense Media Activity
5/7/2012 - COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFNS) -- Air Force swimmers proved themselves in the pool May 5 by securing one gold and two silver medals during the 2012 Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy here.
Ryan McGuire secured the silver medals in the men's 100m freestyle single-leg amputation multi-class and the men's 50m freestyle SLA multi-class with times of 1:20:62 and 35.70, respectively.
In one of his last events of the day, McGuire garnered gold in the men's 50m backstroke SLA multi-class. He finished the race in 45.33, more than eight seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.
"I think I did pretty well," McGuire said. "The competition was pretty fierce this year, it steps up every year, but it makes me feel really good to be able to hold my own. I think I had a really good day overall."
Corey Carter earned the silver medal in the men's 50m freestyle above-the-elbow amputee multi-class. This was Carter's first time swimming competitively, and he missed first place by less than two seconds.
Carter agreed that the competition was tough, but he still managed to hold his own as a newcomer.
"I had a really good time; I did the best that I could, and I achieved what I came out here to do - get a medal in something, he said.
"The toughest thing for me was breathing and keeping my timing right," Carter said. "A little over a month and a half ago, I was a regular recreational swimmer, so learning how to freestyle was new for me. Learning how to get the timing down was something I had to work on back home. I had a lot of work to do before I got here, but when I got here I came to show what I had."
The Air Force female swimmers both gave good chase but fell short of the bronze. Katie Robinson placed fifth in the women's 100m freestyle open multiclass and Jennifer Stone came in a close fourth place in the women's 50m freestyle open multi-class. Her time was 41.84, which put her 1.5 seconds behind the third-place finisher.
Comments
5/8/2012 7:56:02 AM ET What a powerful testimony to the spirit of freedom and being the best that you can be ... these people are the top of their class indeed. Soaring like eagles not letting ANYTHING get in their way. May God always watch over them and keep them strong. I am so grateful for these and all of our wonderful soldiers. Thank you to all ... now THAT is a swim meet worth watching
