Keith Beavers is an emerging star on the Canadian swim scene. While he won't likely be a medal threat in his first Olympic appearance in Athens, he has clearly established himself as Canada's top performer in the men's 200-metre backstroke. He broke the Canadian record in the event initially in 2002 in a bronze medal performance at the Pan Pacific Championships, then lowered the time a year later at the U.S. Nationals. At the U.S. Open in 2003 he beat world champion Lenny Krayzelburg of the U.S. for a gold medal.
However Beavers said all that success would not have been possible without a disappointing performance at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
"My disappointment at the Commonwealth Games taught me way more than I think winning would have," Beavers said. "It was a big step for me. I didn't race properly and I learned the only way to succeed internationally was to race my own race and not worry about the others."
Beavers began swimming when he was 6 years old. He enjoys golfing and watching movies outside of the pool. His sights after swimming are set on becoming a sports medicine doctor.
