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In the Spotlight Erik Nieman, a 9 Year Old CF Patient, Qualifies for the Arkansas Swimming Team Erik Nieman, a 9 year old CF patient from Hot Springs, is one of seven in the 10 and Under Division to qualify for the Arkansas Team that is competing in the 2008 Central Zones in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The difficulty of qualifying for Zone Championship can be equated to the difficulty of being fast enough to run a five minute mile.  Only about 2% of the USA Swimming, in the registered Arkansas Age Group, qualified for Zones.  Erik is one of two swimmers that are the youngest on the Arkansas team.  Qualifying for zones is very difficult, qualifying at the age of 9 is very rare, and to qualify at the age of 9 with a lung disease puts him in a one in a million position.  Erik qualified to compete in 50 meter backstroke & on the medley relay.  Locally, Erik is a part of Hot Springs YMCA Seals, coached by Jim Norman.  For the Zone competition, he will be a part of Team Arkansas.  When Erik first started swimming and began winning ribbons, he said that he wanted to win to be able to show others with diseases that you can still have hope and achieve your dreams even when you have difficulties that you have to fight everyday.