Growing up in Vancouver Dustin Hersee wasn't thrilled when his mother decided to put him in swimming lessons at age eight at a chilly outdoor facility. Now he's going to Olympics after upsetting a couple of veterans in the men's 200 backstroke at the Games' trials in June.

  He hadn't won a national level race in three years but at the trials he defeated Chris Renaud, a former short course world record holder in the 50 backstroke, as well as club mate and world championship medallist Mark Versfeld.

  "I've been in the shadow a long time but I was confident I could break out," said Hersee, who won his lone Canadian crown in 1997 in the 200 backstroke. "I always believed in myself and I kept it going. It's taking me three years to get back but I'm back when it counts. One of the keys to my development is having the opportunity to race world class backstrokers like Mark and Chris the last few years."

2000 Games
Sept. 20: Dustin Hersee, Vancouver, placed seventh in heat, eliminated.


Photos
Dustin Hersee & Mike Mintenko

2000 Games Swimming Coverage