Keith Beavers
Encyclopedia
Keith Beavers was born in London
, Ontario
and grew up in the small town of Orangeville, Ontario
, attending Mono and Amaranth Public School. He is a backstroke
and medley
swimmer from Canada
, who competed for his native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens, Greece. Keith is a Masters student at the University of Waterloo
. In 2002 he won the bronze medal and broke the Canadian record in the men's 200 m backstroke at the 2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
. In 2003, Beavers came back to lower the mark once again in April at the U.S. Nationals clocking 1:59.15. In 2006 at the Pan Pacific Trials he once again lowered his 200 m backstroke record to 1:58.97 He began his swimming career with the Orangeville Otters Swim Club, Orangeville, Ontario.
Another career highlight was at the US Open when he upset double Olympic backstroke champion Lenny Krayzelburg
of the United States for the gold in the 200 m backstroke. His sister Lindsay was also a national team swimmer.
In 2004, Beavers had already pre-qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics
in the 200 back with his performance at 2003 World Aquatics Championships
in Barcelona, Spain. He made the cut at Olympic Trials by placing first in the 400 m individual medley, clocking 4:17.65. Beavers, who represents the Region of Waterloo Swim club under coach Bud McAllister, was encouraged by his parents Don and Arlene to start swimming lessons at the age of six.
In 2008, Beavers qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing in the 200 back and 400 IM at the Olympic Trials in Montreal. Beavers was once again representing the Region of Waterloo Swim club under coach Dean Boles. He placed 7th in the 200 IM. Keith has announced his retirement from international competition.
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and grew up in the small town of Orangeville, Ontario
Orangeville, Ontario
Orangeville is a town in south-central Ontario, Canada, and the seat of Dufferin County.-History:Before European settlers, Orangeville was thought to be a native hunting ground...
, attending Mono and Amaranth Public School. He is a backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
and medley
Medley swimming
Medley is a combination of four different swimming styles into one race. This race is either swum by one swimmer as individual medley or by four swimmers as a medley relay...
swimmer from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, who competed for his native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place in the Olympic Aquatic Centre with the athletes competing in 32 events. There was a total of 937 participants from 152 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men's events:...
in Athens, Greece. Keith is a Masters student at the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
. In 2002 he won the bronze medal and broke the Canadian record in the men's 200 m backstroke at the 2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
The ninth edition of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, a long course event, was held in 2002 in Yokohama International Swimming Pool in Yokohama, Japan, from August 24–29. One world record was set over the six-day competition....
. In 2003, Beavers came back to lower the mark once again in April at the U.S. Nationals clocking 1:59.15. In 2006 at the Pan Pacific Trials he once again lowered his 200 m backstroke record to 1:58.97 He began his swimming career with the Orangeville Otters Swim Club, Orangeville, Ontario.
Another career highlight was at the US Open when he upset double Olympic backstroke champion Lenny Krayzelburg
Lenny Krayzelburg
Lenny Krayzelburg is an American backstroke swimmer, and Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder. He swam in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. He won a total of 4 Olympic gold medals....
of the United States for the gold in the 200 m backstroke. His sister Lindsay was also a national team swimmer.
In 2004, Beavers had already pre-qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in the 200 back with his performance at 2003 World Aquatics Championships
2003 World Aquatics Championships
Barcelona, Spain was the host city of the X FINA World Aquatics Championships or the 10th FINA World Championships in Aquatics, which were held from July 12 until July 27, 2003....
in Barcelona, Spain. He made the cut at Olympic Trials by placing first in the 400 m individual medley, clocking 4:17.65. Beavers, who represents the Region of Waterloo Swim club under coach Bud McAllister, was encouraged by his parents Don and Arlene to start swimming lessons at the age of six.
In 2008, Beavers qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing in the 200 back and 400 IM at the Olympic Trials in Montreal. Beavers was once again representing the Region of Waterloo Swim club under coach Dean Boles. He placed 7th in the 200 IM. Keith has announced his retirement from international competition.