Taylor Deley earns 5 medals at Junior Lifeguard Provincials

Taylor Deley

Chris Davis

Local lifeguard Taylor Deley attended the Spruce Grove 2014 Alberta and Northwest Territories Junior Lifeguard Club Provincial Championships last weekend, where she was competing in 12-13 year old group.  She returned with a fistful of medals, five to be exact, including:

• Gold - Manikin Carry without fins
• Silver- Manikin Carry with fins
• Silver- Manikin Tow with fins
• Silver- Medley Relay
• Bronze- Obstacle Race

She faced approximately 60 competitors in each race.  Her Manikin Carry Relay Team almost broke a Provincial record but was disqualified for a minor technicality.

Taylor is 12 years old, and is in grade 7 at St. Michael's School.  She swims with the Lethbridge Mantas out of the University of Lethbridge.  She's also a Pincher Creek Dolphin, having completed her first year.  Remarkably, considering her achievements, she's been swimming competitively for only a year and a half.

Other pursuits Taylor enjoys include 4-H, reining, and her friends.  She also competes in swimming and riding in the Southern Alberta Summer Games.  She will be eligible to compete in the Commonwealth Games once she's 16.  "Is that something you want to do?" I asked her. "Yup,"  she replied with a big grin.  After the Commonwealth Games she could go on to the World Junior Lifeguard Competition (held in Australia or France depending on the year).