Andrew Cooke is nervous about the Para Pan Am Games in Toronto Aug 7-15.
“I’m competing in front of my home country,” said Cooke, who departed for Toronto on Friday.
Cooke, who was nominated for selection among 40 swimmers by the Canadian national team in late March, qualified for seven events — 50 metre, 100-m, and 200-m freestyle, as well as 50-m fly, 50-m backstroke, 100-m breast stroke and 200 individual medley.
Cooke’s confidence is high going in as he has been performing “pretty darn good” he said. Having competed against most of the swimmers he will see in Toronto also gives him comfort.
Cooke, a member of the KISU swim club, competed in the 2014 Pan Pacific Para Games in Pasadena, Calif., where he earned a silver medal, bronze medal and a Canadian record.
Cooke competed in the 2011 Para Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. He earned a fifth-place result in the 100-metre breaststroke, which he completed in 2:39.31 seconds. His other two high results were in the 50-m and 200-m freestyle, which he completed in 55.46 and 4:30.87 seconds, respectively.
“It was my first international meet,” said Cooke at the time. “It was exciting for me.”