CONGRATULATIONS to LAC OLYMPIC TEAM MEMBERS

Joe Bartoch

Event: 100m butterfly

Olympic Qualifying Time: 52.28s

Born: January 3, 1983

Height / Weight: NA

Birthplace: London, Ont.

Club: London Aquatic Club

Hometown: London, Ont.

Residence: London, Ont.

Sprint freestyle and butterfly specialist Joe Bartoch is from London Ontario where he trains with the London Aquatic club under Coach Paul Midgley. During the school year, Joe studies Physical Education and Coaching at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas where he trains with Coaches Kunio Komo and Jim Lietz.

Joe strives to be the best and he is one of Canada’s top butterfly sprinters. In 2007, Bartoch competed at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro where he swam the 100 fly in 53.18 and the 50 free in a personal best time of 23.24. A month later at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, Joe swam a personal best in the 50 fly (24.33) to finish 10th and swam the 100 fly in 53.21 to finish 7th. Joe has his sights set on making the Olympic Team in 2008 and would eventually like to Coach when his swimming career comes to an end.

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Darda Sales

Events: 400 LC Meter Freestyle S6-S13

Olympic Qualifying Time: 4:52.77

Born: September 1st, 1982

Height / Weight: NA

Lives: Sarnia, Ont.

Club: London Aquatic Club

Hometown: London, Ont.

Athlete Website: NA

Darda Sales has a lot to be smiling about these days. Not only was she successful at both the 2006 IPC Swimming World Championships and the 2007 Para Pan American Games, she was able to share these experiences with her new husband and longtime teammate Brad Sales. Darda received three medals at the IPC Swimming World Championships, including the silver medal for the 400 freestyle relay and two bronze medals for the 100 and 400 freestyle.

At the 2007 Para Pan American Games, Darda won 2 gold medals in the 100m freestyle and the 4x100 freestyle relay. She also won 3 silver medals in the 100m backstroke, 400m freestyle and 50m freestyle. Darda is a two-time Paralympian having competed at the 2000 Paralympics Games in Sydney and the 2004 Games in Athens. She was a member of the 4x100 medley relay team in Sydney that won the gold medal and broke the World Record. In Athens, she won a silver medal in the same event.

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Andrea Cole

Events: 400 LC Meter Freestyle S6-S13

Olympic Qualifying Time: 5:31.40

Born: January 29th, 1984

Height / Weight: NA

Lives: London, Ont.

Club: London Aquatic Club

Hometown: Thunder Bay, Ont.

Athlete Website: NA

Andrea Cole is a University of Western Ontario student where she is studying French and English and plans on taking a one year diploma course in public relations once she earns her degree. She swims with the London Aquatic Club under Coach Andrew Craven. Andrea broke into the spotlight at the 2000 Paralympic Games where she was part of the world record 4x100 freestyle relay. In 2002 at the national championships, Andrea won the 100 butterfly in the S8 category. In 2004 at the Paralympic Games in Athens, Andrea brought home the bronze medal in the 100 butterfly and the silver medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay. In 2006 at the ICP Swimming World Championships in South Africa, Andrea won the bronze medal for the 400 freestyle. Andrea was on the podium once again at the 2007 Para Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Andrea collected 5 gold medals in the 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 200m IM, 400m freestyle and the 4x100 medley relay. She also won a silver medal in the 50m freestyle.

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Joe Barker

Events: 100 LC Meter Breaststroke S4-S13

Olympic Qualifying Time: 1:23.05

Born: October 5, 1987

Height / Weight: NA

Birthplace: London, Ont.

Club: London Aquatic Club

Hometown: London, Ont.

Athlete Website: NA

Joe is in the electrical engineering program at Fanshawe College in London and is in his 2nd year with the London Aquatic Club. His first exposure to competitive swimming came through his high school swim team, but Joe really got the bug to compete internationally when he watched the 2006 Can-Am Disability Championships hosted by LAC at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre in April 2006. Joe’s rise to the Paralympic team has been rapid; his first international event was the 2007 Can-Am meet in Montreal in March 2007 and he also swam at the December 2007 event in College Park, Maryland. Proud parents are Pam and Bill.