Stags in Olympics

[nashvillestag]

Nice article in the Post today about three Paralympic athletes representing colleges in Connecticut who have qualified for the Olympic games in Tokyo this summer, two of whom happen to be from Fairfield (the other is from Quinnipiac). Mathew Torres a current sophomore and Colleen Young a 2020 graduate are both swimmers who are headed to that exciting event after making it through the qualification process recently. Their accomplishments are certainly noteworthy as well as obviously inspiring based on the hardships they have had to deal with during their lives. So they deserve a lot of credit and certainly I'm sure we would all wish them well in the world-wide competition next month!

[FU73]

Three athletes with ties to CT qualify for Olympics, Paralympics

Three athletes with Connecticut ties qualified for the summer Games over the weekend and will make the trek to Tokyo in a little over a month to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics.

Last weekend’s U.S. Paralympic Team Trials were its most watched event after being live streamed across NBC platforms for the first time. Two Fairfield alumni earned Paralympic qualifying spots in the swim trials. The Paralympics will follow the Olympics (July 23-August 8) and run from August 24 to September 5.

Matthew Torres, Paralympic swimming, Ansonia, CT/Fairfield University



Background: The current Fairfield University sophomore won the 200-individual medley at the 2019 World Para Swimming World Series in Indianapolis. His best finish as a Stag was in 2019, when Torres finished third in the 800 SC Meter freestyle against Fordham. Torres was born without the lower portion of his right leg and was missing all but one toe on his left foot due to amniotic band syndrome, which also caused curvature and some index fusion on his hands.

Paralympics Experience: Torres set an American Record by winning the S8 400 free in 4:29.52 at last weekend’s trials. He also won the S8 100 free in 1:04.44 and will be making his Paralympic debut this summer.

Colleen Young, Paralympic swimming, Fairfield University



Background: The Saint Louis, Missouri native graduated from Fairfield University in 2020 after one of the most record setting careers in program history. Young owns eight Fairfield records including the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke, and the 100 and 200 scm breaststroke. Her two-minute and 5.70-second time in the 200 IM ranks as the second fastest time in school history. At this weekend’s Trials she won both the SB13 100 LC and the SB13 200 LC. Young is legally blind and was born with albinism. In 2012, at age 14, she became the youngest athlete to compete on the U.S. Paralympic Team.

Paralympics Experience: This summer will be Young’s third Paralympics after winning the bronze in the 100-meter breaststroke in 2016 and finishing fifth in the event at the 2012 Olympics in London.

www.ctpost.com/sports/article/Rugby-sevens-and-swim-Three-athletes-with-ties-16263165.php


Fairfield Swimming and Diving @stags_SwimDive
Matthew Torres and Colleen Young are headed to the 2020 Paralympics as a part of @teamusa and @usparaswimming

U.S. Paralympics Swimming @usparaswimming
Ticket. Punched.

Meet the 34 athletes who will represent @teamusa in Para swimming at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics!

www.teamusa.org/USParaSwimming/Features/2021/June/20/US-Paralympics-Swimming-Nominates-34-Swimmers-to-Tokyo-Bound-Roster

[FU73]

Matt Torres '23 and Colleen Young '20 will be among the 34 athletes to represent Team USA and U.S. Paralympic Swimming at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Athletes were selected based on performances from this past weekend's U.S. Paralympic Team Trials in Minneapolis in addition to results from the recent Para Swimming World Series in Lewisville, Texas.

"I am incredibly proud of Colleen and Matt. Colleen left a mark on our program that will be hard to top: she is a multiple-time MAAC champion and holds many of our team records. Beyond the pool, she was a foundational leader in her work ethic during training. I can't wait to watch her compete in Tokyo," said Head Coach Anthony Bruno.

"For Matt, this will be his first Paralympic games. During the recruiting process he had discussed how his goal was to eventually represent the USA. Matt had a stellar first year with us and picked it up during his training in Colorado this year. I am looking forward to watching himi compte this summer and building on his success when we are together again in the fall."

A rising junior at Fairfield, Torres previously competed internationally at the 2019 Para Swimming World Series, highlighted by a first-place showing in the 200m IM. He will be a first-time Paralympian when Team USA travels to Tokyo in late August.

Young will compete in her third Paralympic Games, previously representing the U.S. in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016, where she won a bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke. Young is a seven-time MAAC Champion and a record holder in multiple events at Fairfield. She was a member of the first three MAAC Championship teams in Fairfield Women's Swimming and Diving history from 2018-20.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are scheduled for August 24 through September 5.

[Stagophile]

[FU73]

Fairfield Stags @fairfieldstags

Alumna Colleen Young '20 wins the silver medal in the 200m IM at the #TokyoParalympics!
@usopc_News








www.nhregister.com/sports/article/Former-Fairfield-University-swimmer-Colleen-Young-16422130.php

[FU73]

Fairfield Stags @fairfieldstags

Student-athlete Matthew Torres '23 wins the bronze medal in the 400m Free at the #TokyoParalympics! @teamusa

#TeamUSA #Tokyo2020 #ParalympiansMadeHere

[FU73]

U.S. Paralympics Swimming @usparaswimming

It’s a BRONZE for Matthew Torres in the men’s 400m free S8 after clocking a time of 4:28.47.

[vastagman]

Congratulations to Colleen and Matthew! Awesome achievements!

[FU73]

U.S. Paralympics Swimming @usparaswimming

That's a Third place medal to the collection!

CRYoung grabs a third-place finish to the women's 100 breaststroke SB13.

#TokyoParalympics x #ShowTheWorld