2026 Unity & Light Electric Sprint Invitational Swim Meet Recap
The 2026 Unity & Light Electric Sprint Invitational Swim Meet took place this past weekend at the Lumby Pool, and what an incredible weekend it was!
We welcomed 270 athletes from across the Okanagan, including 72 local swimmers representing the Lumby Lightning Swim Club. The weather could not have been better, with sunshine and blue skies all weekend long.
For many of our swimmers, this was their very first swim meet experience. The weekend was filled with personal best times, happy tears and disappointed tears, plenty of laughter, new friendships, unforgettable memories, and, by Sunday evening, lots of tired swimmers and parents.
Our Lumby Lightning swimmers competed in more than 215 races throughout the weekend, and an impressive over 50% of those swims were either a swimmer’s first-ever legal race or resulted in a personal best time. These achievements reflect the hard work, dedication, and courage our athletes bring to the pool every day.
We were incredibly proud to have 14 Lumby Lightning swimmers earn aggregate medals for their outstanding performances over the course of the meet.
This season, our Junior Coaching Program consists of nine coaches who are developing valuable leadership and mentoring skills both in and out of the pool. Throughout the weekend, they embraced new responsibilities and demonstrated exceptional leadership, helping younger swimmers navigate their swim meet experience while fostering positive interactions among athletes of all ages. Their encouragement, enthusiasm, and support played an important role in creating the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that makes the Lumby Lightning Swim Club so special.
One of the unique aspects of summer swimming is that it truly is a sport for all ages and abilities. This weekend’s meet featured athletes ranging in age from just 3 years old to 72 years old, as well as a para athlete. One of the highlights of the weekend was watching three generations of the same family compete together, with a grandfather swimming alongside his daughter and three grandchildren. Moments like these showcase the inclusive spirit of the sport and demonstrate how swimming can bring families and communities together in a way few other sports can.
A huge thank you goes out to our Title Sponsor, Unity & Light Electric, for their continued support of our club and community.
We would also like to recognize our Lane Sponsors: Full Circle Sports & Apparel, Kasper Denture Clinic Ltd., Sugar Peaks Ice Cream (Okanagan Outpost), Dirt Nerd Earthworks (proud sponsor of two lanes)
Thank you as well to our Community Supporters: Tolko Industries, Village of Lumby, Whitevalley Community Resource Centre, Lumby & District Wildlife Association, Lumby Disc Golf Association, Vernon Off-Road Motorcycle Club & Made with Love by M.E.
Special thanks to our talented guests who helped kick off the weekend’s festivities. We were honoured to have Ashton Saffari perform Oh Canada on Saturday morning, while Lumby Lightning swimmer Nicola Bradley beautifully played our national anthem on her fiddle.
We were also pleased to welcome Linda, attending on behalf of her husband, Scott Anderson, Member of Parliament for Vernon–Lake Country–Monashee. Mr. Anderson was instrumental in helping our club secure funding through the Canada Summer Jobs Program, which supports three of our coaches this season.
Year after year, the Lumby Swim Meet continues to be a favourite among families throughout the region. Beyond the competition in the pool, the event provided opportunities to support local businesses and organizations. Families and volunteers enjoyed lunches from Snac Shac on Saturday, while many also supported Joy’s Addiction Mobile Mexican Cuisine, which was set up alongside the Lumby Community Market. Sunday’s lunch service was provided by Avenue Pizza. Throughout the weekend, visiting families took time to explore the market, shop locally, and experience the hospitality that makes Lumby such a special community to visit.
We were also pleased to partner with the Charles Bloom Secondary School (CBSS) PAC to provide additional camping accommodations for visiting families when the Lumby Lions Campground reached capacity. This partnership helped ensure that more athletes and families could stay in our community throughout the weekend.
We would like to give a special shout-out to Tawnya and the team at Okanagan Outpost for coming to our rescue on Friday evening. When we found ourselves in need of white vinyl to complete a new set of race flags, Tawnya stepped up and helped us out on short notice. Thanks to her generosity and support, we were able to finish the flags in time for the weekend. These new flags will not only be used at Lumby Lightning swim meets but will also benefit our community during lap swim sessions at the Lumby Pool.
We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Lumby Pool lifeguards and staff. From ensuring athlete safety and providing first aid for bumps and scrapes to keeping the facility running smoothly, their hard work throughout the weekend was invaluable.
With another successful meet in the books, our swimmers now turn their attention to Challenge Week, taking place July 6–10. Swimmers will participate in a variety of activities, including: Disc Golf, Bluenose Mountain Hike, Cop Hill Run Challenge, Mini Triathlon, Okanagan Rail Trail Bike Ride, Open Water Swim, and Fun Games and Team Activities
Thank you to all our swimmers, coaches, officials, volunteers, sponsors, supporters, and families for making this year’s Unity & Light Electric Sprint Invitational Swim Meet such a tremendous success.
We look forward to seeing everyone back on deck soon. Go Lightning!
