Bronwyn Pasloski's latest swimming accomplishment didn't come in the form of a medal, personal best time or even in the pool at all. It came in an e-mail that was sent by Swim Canada a few weeks ago.

The e-mail informed the 16-year-old Whitehorse Glacier Bear that based on her outstanding results in the pool throughout the previous season; she has achieved national carding status.

"It's awesome," Pasloski said about the accomplishment. "It's definitely just going to be so much more help and it's going to make things so much easier."

Pasloski will receive $900 each month for the next year as a result of achieving the Youth 1 Development card status. The money is awarded through the Athlete Assistant Program (AAP).

In the AAP, there are various levels of carded athlete status, which for swimming includes senior and developmental cards.

MacKenzie Downing is, at the moment, the only other Yukon swimmer that holds a national carding status.

Downing, who swims for the University of Victoria, is a senior national team card member and receives $1,500 each month. She has held the senior card status since 2006 and was the first Yukon swimmer to achieve the honour.

The AAP is committed to helping Canadian athletes improve their performances at international sporting events such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games, Paralympic Games and World Championships.

The program not only identifies, but supports athletes that are viewed either at or with the potential to be ranked in the top 16 in the world.

The criteria for achieving the youth development swimming status is based on the overall world rankings as of Aug. 31, 2008. It includes the top five Canadian world ranked male youth swimmers and the top five Canadian world ranked female swimmers that were born in 1991 or before.

Swimmers also must have a minimum ranking of 150th place in the world standings. Pasloski's world ranking is currently around the top 100 breaststroke swimmers in her age category.

Pasloski said she clinched the carding status at the North American Challenge Cup, which was held in Edmonton at the beginning of August.

At the North American Challenge Cup, Pasloski achieved a personal best time in the 200-m breaststroke category, winning a gold medal in the process. She finished the 200-m distance with an impressive time of 2:31.5.

Unfortunately for Team Yukon, Pasloski won't be able to compete at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in August as a result of achieving the carding status.

At the 2005 Canada Summer Games, Pasloski had the best-ever Yukon breaststroke finish, placing eighth in the 100-m distance.

She said she is disappointed about not being able to go this summer.

"This time it would have been a lot more fun to be around people my age and to get the experience and maybe even striving for a lot of medals," she said. "I am pretty sad, but there is not much you can do about it."

Pasloski said the $900 will be a big help with covering expenses that include travel, training camps, food and supplies. Her annual training expenses are around $40,000.

Glacier Bears head coach Marek Poplawski said Pasloski is well deserving of receiving the national carding status.

"I am very happy and I think it is good for the rest of the swimmers and the club," he said. "I don't know how many athletes have been carded in the past, but it's not happening every day."

Kathryn Zrum coached Pasloski when she was a member of the junior development group. Zrum, the coach for the Polar Bears group, said she was not surprised about Pasloski getting nationally carded.

"She was always a strong swimmer, had good technique and she has always worked incredibly hard," Zrum said. "(Bronwyn) was one of those kids that just stood out."

Ron Sumanik, the president of Swim Yukon, said it is in an incredible accomplishment achieving a national carding status for swimming.

"We really would like to say congratulations to Bronwyn," he said. "The club, Swim Yukon, the families and all of those levels of support that are contributing to a very successful swimming program, coaches included. It's all a team effort."

Pat Duncan, president of the Whitehorse Glacier Bears Swim Club, said the club is very proud of Pasloski.

"It's a really significant achievement for our club," she said. "We are very proud of Bronwyn, we are also very cognizant and appreciative to her contribution to the club as a team member. She really takes the time and pays a lot of attention to younger swimmers and that's recognized by their parents and the swimmers."

Duncan said Pasloski is looked up to as a club member.

"That speaks to her talent, her dedication, her hard work and it's important and significant when that is recognized on a national level."

Pasloski currently trains for 21 hours each week, which includes 18 hours of swimming and three hours in the gym.