VICTORIA – Aurélie Rivard, a 10-time Paralympic medallist, was satisfied with her opening event of the 2022 season on Thursday night as she posted a victory in the women’s multi-class 100-metre freestyle at the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials.
Rivard, from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and now based in Quebec City, clocked 1:00.72, easily making the S10 qualifying standard for the Para swimming world championships this June in Portugal.
Shelby Newkirk of the Saskatoon Lasers was second at 1:15.54, posting her second Canadian record of the day to make the S6 standard for worlds.
“There were a lot of things I was testing out tonight,” said Rivard, the world record holder and Paralympic champion in the event. “It gives me an idea of where I’m at and what I need to work on for worlds. I wanted the ice to be broken. I wanted to know how I feel. I saw I’m able to improve from the morning into the evening.”
All three medallists in the women’s multi-class 50-m butterfly bettered the world standard in their respective categories.
Danielle Dorris, a Moncton, N.B., was the fastest in 33.64 seconds. Her HPC-Quebec teammate Tess Routliffe of Caledon, Ont., was second in 36.55 while Montreal’s Myriam Soliman of Boucherville, Que., was third in 42.05.
“I’m a lot happier with that swim than I was this morning,” said Dorris, who broke the world record and won gold in the event at the Paralympics in Tokyo last summer in the S7 class. “It’s right under where I want to be.”
Competition continues through Sunday at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
