Jana's focused on Taipei champs

SWIMMING great Ian Thorpe with Down Syndrome swimmers Jana Clancy and Clinton Stanley.

Geoff Pottern

NOOSA'S 27-year-old Jana Clancy has been selected to represent Australia in the Fifth World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Taipei this year.

It’s a busy life for the young woman, who balances her swimming training with a four-mornings-a-week position at Noosa Heads Surf Club, where she sets up work space for the day.

“Jana has worked there for about six-and-a-half years,” her mother Erica said.

Very much part of the community, Jana trains with the Noosa Veterans Swimming Club at the aquatic centre. Among her coaches are Max Pettigrove and Jan Croft. She is also a member of the Noosa Swim Club and Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club.

Her successes include representing Australia in the 2004 games in Durban, South Africa; 2006 games in Limerick, Ireland and 2008 in Portugal. Her impressive world championship medals include seven gold, seven silver and three bronze. She also holds 34 Down Syndrome Swimming world records.

For Jana – a bright, happy, outgoing girl who enjoys a chat – swimming provides friends and fitness.

Keeping healthy is important because Jana has already endured three open-heart operations and suffers from epilepsy.

“We give her the chance to continue to swim,” Erica said.

“It’s hard training and we support her with that.”

The Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships will be held in Taiwan from October 1-8. Jana hopes to raise the $5700 needed to travel to the World Championships by July this year.

If you would like to offer sponsorship you can phone Erica Clancy on 0405 045 430.