29th International Sportfest for People with Disabilities
Wilhemshaven, Germany
29 August – 6 September 2009
The Hope swimming team from the Lamont Centre, comprising five children from the Cluj Blind school with their trainer Emese Maniu and assistant trainer Lidia Tamas participated in their first international swimming competition. The children Petrisor Prundaru (14 yrs - 2 gold medals), Cristina Todea (12 yrs – 3 gold medals ), Samuel Ciorap (14 yrs – 3 gold medals), Ana Ciorap (16 yrs – 3 gold medals ), Nioami Ciorap (12 yrs – 3 gold medals), won altogether 14 gold medals in the competition where 250 people from six European countries, with different disabilities, took part.
Emese and Lydia started to teach the children to swim in October 2008 and from 15th June this year they started intensive swimming training of two and a half hours per day at the Olympic swimming pool owned by the Technical University in Cluj. Every afternoon they also did resistance and muscle strengthening exercises for two hours also.
31st Slovakia Open Swimming Championships for Athletes with Disability
Bratislava, Slovakia
The Hope team from the Lamont Centre, Cluj consisting of four children Cristina Todea (12 yrs), Samuel Ciorap (14 yrs), Ana Ciorap (16 yrs), Noami Ciorap (12 yrs), took part in the 31st Slovakia Open Swimming Championships for Athletes with Disability in Bratislava, Slovakia from the 19-20 September. There were 90 participants from 18 swimming clubs in 7 different countries namely the Czech Republic, England, Hungary, Israel, Romania and Spain. The swimming team won numerous diplomas for the following: 2nd place – 3 diplomas; 3rd place – 4 diplomas; 4th place – 3 diplomas. This competition showed the team that they have a lot of work to do in order to reach the standards for paralympic competitions but this was an excellent experience for them.
The Dolphin Cup, Open Swimming Championships for Athletes with Disability,
Nove Zamky, Slovakia
The Hope team from the Lamont Centre, Cluj consisting of five children Cristina Todea (12 yrs), Noami Ciorap (12 yrs), Samuel Ciorap (14 yrs), Petrişor Prundaru (14 yrs), Ana Ciorap (16 yrs) took part in the Dolphin Cup, Nove Zamky, Slovakia from the 24-25 October. There were 300 participants from 3 countries namely Hungary, Romania and Spain. The swimming team won 18 gold medals, 7 silver and two bronze. In every competition they are improving their times which reflects the excellent results they are experiencing.
31. Wr. Meisterschaft / Schwimmen für Behinderte
Vienna 15 November 2009
Four countries, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Switzerland, and over 150 participants took part in this competition in Vienna, Austria. Noami Ciorap (12 yrs), Samuel Ciorap (14 yrs), Petrişor Prundaru (14 yrs), Ana Ciorap (16 yrs) won 2 silver medals and 7 bronze medals a very good result for this high level competition.
SWANSEA, UK
11-12 December 2009
Three children from the Lamont Centre “Hope” swimming team in Cluj recently participated in the Wales Disability Long Course International Championships in Swansea, Wales. Over 100 participants were there from six countries, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and Romania.
Naomi Ciorap (13 yrs old) won two bronze medals in the 100m breaststroke and 100m backstroke respectively; Samuel Ciorap (15 yrs old) won a silver medal at the 50m freestyle and Petrisor Prundaru (15 yrs old) won a silver medal at the 100m freestyle.
The British teams are known as the best paralympic swimming team in the world so for these three children to win medals at their first UK competition was indeed an excellent result.
