Russia gets its first Beaver

JOSH Beaver continues to rack up the accolades ahead of yet another busy period in his swimming career.
The Tooradin tyro is in the midst of a lucrative 2015 phase with awards and representative honours on the cards for the backstroke swimmer.
Beaver’s efforts in 2014/15 season were rewarded again on Saturday as he was presented with the HA Bennett Trophy at the Swimming Victoria Awards Night.
The trophy is awarded to the swimmer nearest to the Australian backstroke record and Beaver’s efforts throughout the Commonwealth Games and Australian Championships made him the standout choice.
With the award barely placed on his mantle, Beaver was off and away, jetting off to Kazan, Russia earlier this week to take his place on his second Australian senior team.
The former Casey TigerSharks swimmer – now based at Nunawading – finished second at the Australian Championships to qualify for his inaugural world championships team.
Beaver’s 1.56.48 in the 200 metre backstroke in April’s Australian qualifiers scorched the required time to earn him a spot in the green and gold once again with a second-place finish.
“It’s satisfying to know it wasn’t a fluke the first time (making an Australian team) – and it’s a great send in to Rio,” Beaver said to the Gazette earlier this year.
“I’ve put myself in a fantastic place to make the Olympic team next year and be competitive with a few national cracks under my belt.”
The World Championships run from 24 July to 9 August.