June was a memorable month for Langley teen Braedon Dolfo.

Dolfo recently returned from Florida and the U.S. Paralympic Track and Field National Championships with a handful of gold medals in tow.

He won the visually impaired high jump (1.75 metres), javelin (42.54 m), and long jump events, while setting a new Canadian visually impaired long jump record of 6.32 m, which broke his own mark of 6.17 m set at the B.C. high school championships.

Dolfo also won his category in the 100 metres with a personal best of 11.65 seconds, while anchoring the Canadian 4 x 100-metre team to a victory over the Americans with a time of 47.33 seconds, compared to the U.S. mark of 47.56 seconds.

"I felt good but I wasn't expecting much because it was [my] first year and I'm 16," Dolfo said. "I surprised myself, actually. I was the youngest there, so you go in with no expectations, and when you win, it is a big shock."

Prior to leaving for the Sunshine State, Dolfo set the Canadian visually impaired high jump record of 1.80 m at a meet in Coquitlam.

That result was a world 'A' standard which meets the qualifications for the International Paralympic Committee's World Track and Field Championships in New Zealand in January 2011.

Next up for Dolfo is the Boiling Point meet in Windsor, Ont., before he goes to the Canadian championships at the end of July.

Dolfo, who competes at the club level for the Langley Mustangs and in BC School Sports with the Langley Secondary Saints, is legally blind and has been since the age of 11 when he developed glaucoma.

He first began to lose his eyesight at five years of age with the onset of cataracts. His disability has closed his peripheral vision down to one point.

"It's like looking through a straw," Dolfo explained. "It's been tough because everyone would love to have full sight if they could have it. It has its ups and downs. The ups is definitely this [Paralympic success]."

Further down the road, Dolfo hopes to attend university after he graduates from LSS.

He also has Paralympic aspirations.

"Twenty-12 [Paralympics] in London is a big goal," he said.

David Greig, national developmental coach with Athletics Canada, said Dolfo is "a natural athlete who possesses great kinesthetic awareness and the mental outlook of a true competitor."

"With speed, strength, and these natural graces, Braedon has the skill set to be a real contender," Greig said.

Greig was pleased with Dolfo's performance at June's U.S. championships.

"His competitive progression was showing that he was ready for some big things," Greig said. "Couple this with his intense thirst for competition and he put it all together at the right time. Particularly in the long jump, he struggled hitting his mark in the warm-up and on his first few jumps. Despite this, he didn't get frustrated and made some slight changes to aid in his success. He definitely raised some eyebrows at that event as there were no other events on at that time in the meet. I really believe that he thrived in that spotlight."

Dolfo has the potential to do some great things, Greig said: "There is a fluidity and natural grace to his mechanics that is something that one cannot be taught. All athletes have to work very hard to be successful. For Braedon, the difference will be if he wants to just be world class or if he wants to be a world leader."

Langley Mustangs coach Kim Chapdelaine said Dolfo has ability that is "untapped."

"He manages to keep his head on straight, focus, and execute, which allowed [him] to do his very best," Chapdelaine said, adding, "He is a natural athlete, that has been given a gift. The great thing is Braedon knows that he has to work hard to continue to excel and be the best he can be."

tlandreville@langleyadvance.com