Knox swimmer brings home gold

Justin Williams with his silver medal. Pictures: Special Olympics

By Tanya Faulkner

A local swimmer has brought home another Olympic medal for Knox.

Boronia Swimming Club’s Justin Williams has recently returned from competing in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin last month, bringing with him two new medals to add to his career.

He came away with silver for the most coveted 50 metre Freestyle, and another silver for the Freestyle Relay.

Mr Williams almost clinched third place in the 50 metre backstroke.

These medals mark the first that Australia has ever won in Berlin for swimming at the Special Olympics.

Boronia Swimming Club shared that Justin flew to Berlin in June in preparation for the Olympics, and was said to have been in “fine form”.

After securing his placings in the water, Mr Williams also took to the streets of Berlin for a “little sightseeing” before returning to Victoria.

The club said with these medals in hand, and his tenacity in place, it has been a superb effort from the swimmer.

Boronia Swimming Club head coach Craig Kennedy said these results are well deserved.

“Justin is very focussed in his training and he trains very hard with an aim of being the best – that has now paid off.

“Justin listens well to technical advice, applies it accordingly and is unrelenting in his efforts, seeking speed and power for every stroke through the water,” he said.

Mr Williams had previously won gold at the 2003 Special Olympics in Ireland in the 4x200m Freestyle.