Daniel Gloude is the first member of the Ladera Liquids to ever represent the team at the Junior Olympics, held in Long Beach earlier this month. Swimmers are invited to compete based on qualifying times.
“The 50-meter free is my favorite event and it’s also my fastest,” says ten year old Daniel Gloude. “I swim to have fun.”
Daniel qualified to compete in four different events – 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter backstroke, 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke. “Two of his swims were lifetime bests for Daniel,” explains Evan Forbes, the head coach for the Ladera Liquids. Daniel swam so well that he qualified to swim in two of the event finals.
He placed 9th overall in the Boys 10 and under 50-meter freestyle and 8th overall in the Boys 10 and under 50-meter back.
“Daniel had an amazing swim,” says Forbes of the 50-meter back event. “He was the first one off the wall and never relinquished his lead.”
Daniel has been swimming with the Ladera Liquids for three years, and only in the past year has he been training year round. “Daniel loves swimming with the Liquids,” shares Daniel’s mother, Keely Gloude. “He’s made wonderful friends with his team mates and has learned so much from Coach Evan. It’s been a fantastic experience for all of us.”
Of the 81 teams at the Olympic event, the Ladera Liquids finished in the top 50 teams – a significant accomplishment for their first appearance.
At the end of the meet, Coach Evan promised Daniel, that this would be the one and only Junior Olympic Championship that he would go to alone, without other Ladera Liquids.
To learn more about the Ladera Liquids, visit www.laderalife.com or contact Coach Evan at e_forbes@cox.net.
Filed under: Ladera Ranch | Tagged: junior olympics, swimming
