Get your news fix on happenings outside the pool with the latest ‘Beyond the Lane Lines.’ With each edition, we collect personal stories, little-known facts, and general items of interest from around the world. Read on and learn something new this week.
#1 Olivia Jones Earns Swim Ontario Scholarship
Peterborough Swim Club’s Olivia Jones has been awarded a $500 Swim Ontario Dan Taylor Student Athlete Scholarship.
Presented at the recent Swim Ontario Hall of Fame Awards luncheon, Jones was recognized for maintaining a GPA of 4.0 while notching such performances as an 8th-place finish in the 1k at this past summer’s Ontario Open Water Championships.
On her recognition, Jones said, “Swimming has taught me discipline, time management, and perseverance. I’m honoured to receive this scholarship, and feel motivated to keep pushing toward new goals- both at school, and in the pool.” (PTBO Canada)
Each year, only 12 student-athletes across Ontario—one male and one female from each Swim Ontario region— are selected for the scholarship. Recipients are chosen for their combination of academic achievement and swimming excellence, reflecting the late Dan Taylor’s belief that the sport of swimming builds good habits, confidence, discipline, and leadership. (PTBO Canada)
#2 Northern Ireland Launches Olympic Legacy Fund
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons recently launched Northern Ireland’s first Olympic Legacy Fund.
The £1million (~$1.3 USD) capital investment will modernize facilities at local clubs and community groups as part of a lasting legacy in honor of NI athletes at the Paris Olympics.
On the monetary infusion, Minister Lyons stated,“Last year we all cheered on our athletes as they took home a record-breaking medal haul. It was a privilege to host a homecoming reception at the SSE Arena, a chance not only to pay tribute to our medallists, but also to recognise the incredible dedication of all our Olympians, Paralympians, coaches and support staff.
“During this celebration event, I was delighted to announce the Olympic Medallist Fund. Through this initiative £100,000 was invested in projects at six grassroots clubs across Northern Ireland, chosen by our medal winners to help inspire the next generation of athletes.
“To reaffirm my continued commitment to build on the successes at Paris 2024 and ensure a lasting legacy, I have secured funding of an additional £1million. This funding will mark the success of local athletes by creating new opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to take part in sport in their local area.
“The Olympic Legacy Fund will modernise facilities and provide essential equipment so that everyone can enjoy all types of sports, at all levels.” (Communities-ni-gov.uk)
#3 Olympian Rachel Bootsma Enters Eden Prairie HS Hall of Fame
Minnesota’s Eden Prairie High School has selected American Olympian Rachel Bootsma Reiser as a member of its inaugural Hall of Fame class.
Bootsma graduated from the high school in 2012 after having earned state champion honors three times in the 100y backstroke, breaking the national high school record in the event in 2010. She was named Minnesota State High School Swimmer of the Year.
She topped the women’s 100m backstroke podium at the 2011 Pan American Games and went on to earn gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London as a member of the U.S. 4x100m medley relay.
NCAA-wise, Bootsma raced for Cal and became a three-time NCAA champion in the 100y backstroke.
In 2021, the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association named Bootsma as one of the 100 Greatest Swimmers & Divers of the past century — cementing her legacy and impact.
#4 Agnes Kovacs Appointed Co-Chair of Budapest Olympic Committee
The Budapest Olympic Committee, an entity within the Hungarian Olympic Committee, has appointed former swimming champion Agnes Kovacs as the new co-chair.
The nominee reportedly accepted the role at the Hungarian Olympic Committee’s request, having already served as a member alongside other Olympic champions such as Horváth Gábor and Dr Kovács Antal. (InsidetheGames)
Kovacs said of her appointment, “It is an honour for me to have been asked, and I accepted immediately.
“As an Olympic champion and a devoted supporter of Hungarian sport, it has long been close to my heart that Budapest should one day host the Olympic Games. I have been working towards this goal for more than 10 years, and I am delighted to continue this work.” (InsidetheGames)
According to The Sports Examiner, the facility’s seating bowl has been continuously modified with multiple renovations, including in 1993 when the 1984 Olympic track was removed to install 14 rows of seats – about 8,000 – closer to the football field.
From late 2017 to mid-2019, the University of Southern California, which operates the facility now, invested $315 million to remake the seating and install a Rose Bowl-like pavilion on the south side; those improvements reduced the seating capacity to 77,500 today.
However, the venue’s current configuration does not leave enough room on the field to accommodate a world-class running track for 2028, which means a new track will need to be installed by way of installing stilts to hold a temporary floor at the level where the track was in 1984. (The Sports Examiner)
I remember seeing Bootsma swim in Minnesota and she very well deserves this award!