Swimming Canada has announced it 2012-13 Open Water National Team. The team was selected from the 2012 Canadian Open Water Ranking System.
The team will consist of two 2012 Olympians Richard Weinberger of Victoria, BC., and Zsofi Balazs of Toronto, Ont. along withXavier Desharnais of Sherbrooke, Que., Aimeson King of Oakville, Ont., Nadine Williams of Sherwood Park, Alta., and Beatrice Pineau of Quebec City.
Weinberger had an outstanding year in 2012 placing in the top three in World Cup events in Argentina (2nd) and Brazil (3rd). He capped the year off by winning Olympic bronze in London, in doing so he became the first Canadian swimmer to win an Olympic medal in an Open Water event.
Weinberger has also won gold at the 2011 Pan American Games and a bronze at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships.
Zsofi Balazs had a breakout year in 2012 as well becoming the first Olympic qualifier in an open water event ultimately finishing 18th at the games.