Special training in Germany made the difference and helped Carlos Biggeman (Bayfield) dominate the annual Otago Special Olympics swimming championships at Moana Pool on Wednesday.
Biggeman (19) won the men's A grade 50m backstroke, 25m backstroke and 25m breaststroke and was second to Ricky White (Sara Cohen) in the 50m freestyle.
He has been selected to compete at the world Down's syndrome championships in Taiwan in October.
Biggeman was born in Bolivia and has lived in Dunedin for the past three years since his father, Sergio Biggeman, became a lecturer in marketing at the University of Otago.
Biggeman swam in three competitive meetings during his father's six-month sabbatical leave in Germany.
There was a record entry of 61 swimmers at the championships, officiated by sports management students at the Otago Polytechnic and retired sports enthusiasts, including former All Black Tuppy Diack.
Among other notable performances, Ricky White won the 50m freestyle and 25m backstroke double, and Todd White (Sara Cohen) won the B grade 25m backstroke and was runner-up in the 25m freestyle.
Natasha Harborne (Taieri College) won the girls A grade 25m and 50m freestyle double and Teagan Booth (Queen's High School) the 25m backstroke.
Kenny Chor (Roxburgh Area School) was second in the B grade 25m breaststroke and third in the 50m freestyle.
Becky Donovan (Queen's High School) was runner-up in the B grade 25m backstroke and third in the 25m freestyle.
