Jesse Canney breaks 3 N.B. swimming records at Paralympic trials

Fredericton swimmer Jesse Canney has broken three New Brunswick Para Provincial long-course records at the Paralympic trials in Toronto this week.

Marta Belsh, Canney's coach, heralded Canny's achievements at the event.

"It's the first time he's participating in the Paralympic trials and ... he's swimming really well," she said.

Canney, 19, swims in the S14 category for "intellectual disability." 

Canney was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. 

Pamela Moxon, his mother, said Canney didn't talk until he was six.

"So when he does talk now, he says yes or no. He'll ask questions when he really wants know something but for him to express his desires and goals he doesn't really say," Moxon said.

"I just push him to keep going because I know he can do it."

Canney competed in the trials for the Pan Am Games last year and has travelled around North America swimming. 

Belsh said he trains six days a week as well as dryland training and though it might not be enough to send him to the Paralympics this year, that's still the goal.

"At this time where we are in his development and preparation I think [the Paralympics] might be a little too far to reach at the moment but it's something certainly that we will be going forward with," Belsh said. 

Canney will swim the 200-metre individual medley Thursday, 100-metre butterfly on Friday, 100-metre backstroke Saturday and 100-metre freestyle on Sunday. 

"We are hoping he will have the qualifying times in four years when the 2020 Olympics are in Tokyo," Moxon said.