THE Dorado Speed Swim Club last Friday bid farewell to one of its most accomplished swimmers, Olympian Britany van Lange, following the club’s training session at the Colgrain Swimming Pool, Camp Street. Van Lange, who is also an officer with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), left Guyana yesterday for the United States of America (USA) where a scholarship awaits her at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
“We are very proud of her, we know that whatever she sets her mind to she can achieve and we wish her all the best. I know that she will continue to make us proud,” Dorado head coach, Stephanie Fraser, expressed Friday night.

“Over the years Britany has really become a really talented swimmer and it’s a pity we could not have done much for her with regards to education because of how our education system is, because when she had exams or she had lessons, that really kept her back from a lot of training,” Fraser related.

Van Lange first became a member of the Dorado club after attending a Learn to Swim programme at the Colgrain pool. Fraser recalled how even at the beginning one could see van Lange’s great potential.
“From the time Britany came on you could see that she was somebody special. She had all the prerequisites to be a good athlete; she had good coordination, she had the right spirit, and she had the motivation, she was very self-motivated,” Fraser said.
As a swimmer, Van Lange excelled at the local and regional levels, and represented Guyana at the highest level. In 2012, she was among the team that represented Guyana at the 2012 Olympics, Guyana’s youngest member on the team at the time, and Guyana’s youngest female swimmer to ever attend the event.
Van Lange has also represented Guyana at the FINA (International Swimming Federation) World Swimming Championships, as well as the Pan America Games in 2011.

Locally, Van Lange dominated with recording breaking performances always leaving her mark as she passed through the various age categories, from the eight and under to her current 18 and over category. Van Lange’s dominance locally spilled over on the regional scene, where Van Lange ruled supreme at events like the tri-nation Inter-Guiana Games and the Goodwill Games.

Teaching instructor, Aritha Scott recollects Britany as always being a “go getter”, admiring how very disciplined Van Lange was.

For her part, Van Lange is very much looking forward to this new chapter in her life.

“It feels great, it also makes me feel more responsible. It’s just a great opportunity that I am willing to try my best on and to take full advantage of. I think it will be a very interesting experience, in that it will be tough, yet it will be fun. I will have specific heights to reach and to continue reaching,” Van Lange noted.

Extending heartfelt gratitude to all those who helped her along the way, Van Lange was particularly grateful to have swimming be a part of her life.

“Swimming played a major role. Swimming helped me to learn to manage my time, help me to learn to work with a team, help me to make some great friends. And it has always helped me to keep fit and prepare for the rigours of the army,” Van Lange shared.

Van Lange encouraged her club to keep up with their drive to keep getting individuals involved in swimming.

“Continue with involving more children in sports, because being in a sport helps you to become the best version of who you can be.”