Scott earns trip to world championships

Susan Beth Scott has a trip to Durban, South Africa, marked on the calendar for later this year.

Scott, 14, placed first in one event and second in three others last weekend at the U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships in San Antonio, Texas.

The performance was good enough to land her a spot on the U.S. Paralympics Swimming World Championships Team that will compete Nov. 27 through Dec. 9 at the world championships in South Africa.

Swimmers for the 25-person national team are selected not by place in the national championship meet; rather, they are chosen based on how their times stack up against the best swimmers around the world.

Scott placed first in the 200-meter backstroke event and finished second in the 400 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 1,500 freestyle.

Scott began swimming in Paralympics competitions in 2004, and she generally competes in the S10 division, which is comprised of the least disabled swimmers. She was born with a form of spina bifada, and she has had tissue surgically removed from her spinal cord.

The national team will meet at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Co., Oct. 5 through 9 for a training segment before heading overseas.

"I was really excited and a little scared," Scott said. "I've always really wanted to do this."