Despite being 1,600 miles from her hometown - or maybe because of it - Kyra Jones wears her pride in her home nation on her sleeve.

Jones, a native of Medicine Hat, Alberta and sophomore at Seven Lakes, knows she may not achieve her ultimate goal at this week's Canadian Olympic Swimming Trials in Montreal. But just less than three months shy of her 16th birthday, the two-time 4A champion in the 100-meter backstroke isn't putting any undue pressure on herself.

"Right now at my age this is great experience to swim with these people," Jones said. "I'm just going to do my best. I'll only get this chance every four years; the next time I'll be able to compete (in the Trials) I'll be in college, so I'm going to try to make the most of this."

Jones, who holds Canadian citizenship, leaves for Montreal on Monday. Competition is from Wednesday to Sunday at the 1976 Olympic Pool; Jones is participating in the 100 and 200 backstrokes and 200 freestyle.

The Olympics will be from Aug. 8-24 in Beijing.

"When you're young, the Olympics are what you shoot for," she said. "It's every swimmer's dream. ...

"It was probably just in the last two years I thought I could do this. I've trained a lot and stayed really focused."

She capped another sensational high school season in February at the 4A state meet, winning the 100 backstroke, placing second in the 500 free and swimming with the winning 200 medley relay team and fourth-place 400 free relay. Seven Lakes finished second.

Jones holds school records in the 200 medley relay, 400 free relay, 500 free and 100 back. The latter, 57.23, is a 4A state record set in 2006-07.

Jones has lived in such varied locations as Alberta, London and Houston because her mother, Deanna, works for Schlumberger, an oilfield services corporation.

The Joneses previously lived in Texas for 11 1/2 years before a three-year stay in London. They've been back in Houston for three years.

Kyra Jones swims year-round for Seven Lakes and Katy Aquatics. She earned her way into the Canadian Swimming Trials at the U.S. national meet last summer in Indianapolis, swimming 2:23 in the 200 back.

"At state (in late February) everyone else was tapering and shooting for that meet but I had to keep going and train even harder," said Kyra Jones, who turns 16 on June 25.

Even after the state meet, her pride in competing for Canada was evident.

"This is a pretty big deal for her. She's going (with the intention) to compete and do well but at the same time, it's going to be a learning experience for her on a huge stage," Seven Lakes coach Jordan Beck said.

"It's absolutely important to us that we have a strong tie to our home country," Deanna Jones said. "We're keeping our Canadian pride."

On the Web

For more information about the Canadian Swimming Trials, visit Swimming Canada's Web site here.

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