Dalhousie's David Sharpe to compete in London Olympics

Source: Dalhousie Sports Info

HALIFAX, NS – Last Saturday David Sharpe’s dream of becoming an Olympian became reality as he was named to the 2012 Canadian Olympic swim team heading to London in a few weeks.

David grew up in Halifax, NS and has been swimming for the Halifax Trojans Aquatic Club since he was seven years old. After graduating from high school he choose to stay in Halifax and attend Dalhousie University where he continued his training on the Tigers varsity swim team and with the Trojans.

A highly decorated athlete, David’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. He currently holds six Atlantic University Sport (AUS) records and has been recognized by the AUS as a three-time Championship Swimmer of the Meet, a two-time Male Swimmer of the Year and as the 2009-10 Rookie of the Year. He is a three-time AUS all-star and a three-time Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) first team all-Canadian. In the past three years competing for the Tigers, David has earned 14 AUS titles and three gold, three silver and two bronze CIS medals.

Earlier this year at the Olympic Trials in Montréal David earned an Olympic nomination with a 1:58:81 victory in the 200m butterfly, only .02 seconds ahead of second place. Since that race he has been patiently waiting while swimmers around the world complete their time trials before he could be officially named an Olympic competitor.

David says, “I knew I would be finding out on Saturday and when my coach Aaron (Maszko) finally called I got pretty excited. I look forward to competing and hope to set a new best time.”

No stranger to national level events, David represented Canada at the 2009 and 2011 Universiade Games and has previously participated in Canada Games and the Eastern Canadian Championship.

This is an historical event as David is the first male and only the third ever Nova Scotian to attend the Olympics in swimming (Nancy Garapick was the first in 1976 and Marie Moore was the second in 1984). Swim Nova Scotia President Sue Jackson says, “This is exciting for swimming in Nova Scotia. The Olympics is the ultimate goal now to have one of our own go is incredible. This story shows the young ones that dreams come true.”

David is a third-year student in Dalhousie’s science program and is working on a major in mathematics.