April 14, 2008

AUBURN - Former Auburn swimmer Dave Denniston earned his way to Beijing on April 5 as he qualified for the United States team that will compete at the 2008 Paralympic Games. The Games are slated for Sept. 6-17, 2008, following the completion of the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Denniston was a 15-time All-American for the Auburn swimming and diving team and a three-time NCAA individual champion. He won the 200 breaststroke and swam the breaststroke leg on the winning 200 and 400 medley relay teams at the 1999 NCAA Championships, helping the Tigers to the 1999 NCAA Team Championship.

Following his time at Auburn, Denniston remained a competitive swimmer and earned a spot on the U.S. National Team for the 2001 World University Games in Beijing where he won a gold medal on the 400m medley relay. He also earned a spot on the national team for the 2003 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain.

Denniston's life changed on Feb. 6, 2005, when he was involved in a sledding accident near Laramie, Wyo., that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Since his accident, Denniston has dedicated himself to his rehabilitation and has made his way back into the pool.

His training and work culminated at the 2008 Paralympic Trials that were held April 3-5 in Minneapolis, Minn. Denniston competed in five events at the qualifying meet, earning his way onto the team after clocking a 1:55.40 in the 100m breaststroke.

Denniston says that his swimming technique is all upper-body now as he cannot use his legs, which is something he had to adapt to in his racing style.

"Racing again is a blast, but I have to find new strengths," said Denniston. "Before, I used the walls very well, but now walls just get in the way. Racing and trying not to get too excited is something I've missed for a few years now and racing is just so much fun."

Denniston swam four other events along with the 100m breast. He clocked a 50.44 in the 50m backstroke, a 45.76 in the 50m freestyle, a 48.20 in the 50m butterfly and a 1:42.74 in the 100m freestyle.

While he qualified in the 100m breast, he also gets to swim any event that he met the minimum qualification standard in, allowing him to also swim the 50m butterfly at the Games.

Even though this was not his first national team, Denniston says that qualifying for the Paralympic Games carries a special meaning.

"This one is special because of everything I have been through since those other teams," said Denniston. "It took a lot of support and coaxing to get me back in the water and I'm so glad I did. I don't know if I can call it the most special team I've ever been on, because I don't know yet. But I've never cried when I made a team until this one."

For more information on the Paralympic Games and the United States team, go to http://www.usolympicteam.com/paralympics/.