In the News

Two world records, three gold medals for Canada at Para Swimming World Championships

17 August 2010

Benoit Huot of Montreal and Summer Mortimer of Newmarket, Ont., each broke world records and Chelsea Gotell of Antigonish, N.S., added a third gold for Canada on Monday at the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) world swimming championships for athletes with a disability.

In the men’s 200 IM in the S10 category, Huot clocked two minutes and 11.30 seconds eclipsing the previous world mark of 2:12.78 set by Australian Rick Pendleton at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. Andre Brasil of Brazil was second 2:13.20.

It was Huot’s first gold at a worlds or Paralympic Games in four years.

‘’It’s one of the most invigorating wins of my career,’’ said Huot. ‘’I thought my chances of winning this event were slim. Andre beat me by seven seconds last year at the world short course championships but today he struggled with his breaststroke and that’s where I beat him.’’

In the women’s 200 IM in the S10 division, Mortimer took the gold in 2:30.14 after initially lowering the world mark in the prelims to 2:32.91. Sophie Pasco of New Zealand was second in 2:30.64.

‘’The gold feels great I really came here to win,’’ said Mortimer, a former able-bodied swimmer. ‘’I stayed with the leaders the whole way and I was able to pull ahead at the end. Hopefully there’ll be more medals.’’

In the women’s S13 100 breaststroke for visually impaired, Gotell led Canada to a 1-2 finish clocking a personal best 1:23.10 while Valerie Grand’Maison of Montreal was second in 1:23.27.

‘’I haven’t raced a 100 breaststroke in quite some time so I approached it as a fun race with no pressure,’’ said Gotell. ‘’I was confident I could beat my personal best but I didn’t know where that would place me.’’

Katarina Roxon of Stephenville, N.L., was fifth in the S8 100 breaststroke and Canada’s 4X100 freestyle relay was also fifth with Stephanie Dixon of Victoria, Brianna Jennett-McNiell of Ottawa, Sarah Mehain of Vernon, B.C., and Camille Berube of Gatineau, Que.

Canada is fielding a 31-member team for these championships which run until next Saturday.

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For more information:
Martin Richard
Communications Director
Swimming Canada
t. 613.260.1348
c. 613.725.4339
skype: swimmingcanada-media

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