The Whitehorse Glacier Bears have been busy at a few international swim meets this month.

Hayley Braga had her first interntaional swim meet as part of the B.C. swim team, where she had a strong performance.

The swimmer recently celebrated her 13th birthday, which has aged her out of the 12-year-old category, but she had great success in that age group at the Pacific Coast All Star meet in California.

Braga placed 12th in the 200-metre free, 12th in the 400-m free, 18th in the 50-m butterfly and 17th in the 100-m individual medley.

Glacier Bears coach Marek Poplawski said her placement does not reflect the experience that she gained at this important international meet.

"She did okay,” he said. "It was fantastic experience for her.”

One of the aspects that effected her performance was that the swimming pool was in yards, not metres – which can be a big change for Canadian swimmers.

Besides her placement, Poplawski said making the team in the first place was a great achievement for the young swimmer.

"We're all proud that she made this team,” he said.

Now that Braga is a 13-year-old, Poplawski said the competition gets even tougher, as she jumps up to the 13-14 year old age category.

"She will have to get much better to make the team,” he said.

What Braga experienced in California will add to her drive.

"It was good motivation for her,” Poplawski said.

While Braga was in California competing, Poplawski and 16-year-old Alexandra Gabor were in Australia. Poplawski just returned from the outback last week after a few weeks.

Gabor swam in a number of meets and training camps with the Canadian swim team, and Poplawski said it was a great experience for both himself and Gabor.

"Australia was fantastic, it was good training actually,” he said.

Gabor was swimming with fellow young Canadians down under, and did quite well.

"She got medals,” Poplawski said.

Gabor added three golds and two silver medals to her incredible collection of international swimming awards at the New South Wales Championships.