Fernando Lu has achieved several firsts this week on, what is arguably, the biggest stage of his young career.
The Burnaby swimmer is bringing home a silver and bronze from his first-ever Parapan American Games, a biquadriennial event that pins 41 countries from North, Central and South America against each other in 18 different sports.
Lu, 16, also set a new personal best time in the process, coming from the men's S10 100 m butterfly final at 1:01.31.
That was good enough for third place behind Phelipe Melo (Brazil) and Nicolas Nieto (Argentina).
"I think my performances have been pretty good," Lu told SwimSwam of his latest acomplishment. "I've gone several best times."
Lu's first medal in the Santiago 2023 pool was the silver he claimed in the men's S10 50 m freestyle, touching the wall just over a second behind Melo.
The Moscrop Secondary student fell short of the podium in three other races, placing fourth in the SB9 100 m breaststroke, S10 100 m freestyle and SM10 200 m individual medley.
Lu is a member of the Langley Olympians Swim Club.
He was one of 14 athletes that qualified for Canada's national swim team ahead of the Parapan American Games in Chile.
Lu's resume also includes two medals from the World Series Para swimming competition in Mexico last month, capturing multi-class youth gold and silver in the men's 100 m backstroke and breaststroke respectively.
