julia

We Dohertys are pretty stoked about the Olympics in general. But this time around watching the swimming events in Beijing is extra special since we are rooting for someone we know.

When we lived in Stratford, Tim so enjoyed coaching Jane and Julia Wilkinson in swimming at the Stratford YMCA. Eight years later, Julia is in Beijing with a whole lot more training and experience under her belt, but seemingly still the ever-sweet Julia that we knew then.

To top it off, her results have been so exciting! She qualified for five different swimming events at Olympic trials, and has had personal best times in almost every swim in China. The swimmers have to swim each event three times to make it to the final (heats, semifinals, top 8 in the finals). Last night we stayed up to watch Julia finish second in her semifinal for the 200 individual medley (50 metres each of butterfly, back stroke, breast stroke, freestyle). It wasn't looking like she was going to qualify until she turned on the heat in the final 50... wow, did she rock! She finished 2nd and qualified for the 200 IM finals tonight. So exciting! So if you're willing to stay up until 11:21 tonight, you can cheer her on with us through your tele. And if not, well, she still has two more events to go in the next two days -- the 100 free and the 200 back.

GO, JULES!

We're so very thrilled for you and proud of you.