Katie Cosgriffe claimed Canada’s first gold medal at the Para Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Walnut, California. The 20-year-old from Burlington, Ontario, won the women’s multi-class 100m backstroke final with a season-best time of 1:08.1, securing her first individual international medal based on a total of 962 points. In this multi-class event, winners are determined by a points system calculated against the world record standard for each specific class. Cosgriffe expressed her focus on swimming her own race without expectations, leading her to victory and her first international gold medal. She also won a silver medal in the 100 butterfly, setting new Canadian and Americas S10 records.
Cosgriffe sees this event as a stepping stone towards the upcoming Summer Games in Los Angeles, aiming to use it as valuable practice. Despite falling short of her time goal, she highlighted the significance of ending her challenging season with a gold medal. The competition saw her fellow Canadians, Aurélie Rivard and Nicholas Bennett, also clinching medals, contributing to Canada’s total of nine medals at the event.
Rivard, a 30-year-old Paralympic star from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, secured gold in the women’s 50m freestyle final, adding to her extensive medal collection. Rivard’s victory marked her successful return to international competition after a year away. On the men’s side, Nicholas Bennett from Parksville, British Columbia, earned his second silver medal at the championships, showcasing his talent in the pool. Another notable performance came from Nicolas-Guy Turbide from Quebec City, who broke his own Canadian record in the 100m backstroke, setting the stage for future success in the sport.
The Para Pan Pacific Swimming Championships offered a glimpse into the athletes’ preparation for the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles, emphasizing the importance of acclimatizing to outdoor conditions. The event not only highlighted individual achievements but also served as a crucial test for the Canadian team’s readiness for upcoming competitions, setting a positive trajectory for their future endeavors.