Aurélie Rivard, Sabrina Duchesne and Reid Maxwell obtain ”A” standard at Paralympic swimming trials

TORONTO – Ten-time Paralympic Games medallist Aurélie Rivard of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., Sabrina Duchesne of St-Augustin, Que., and Reid Maxwell of St. Albert, Alta., met the requirements for nomination to the 2024 Paralympic Games team on Wednesday at the Olympic & Paralympic Trials, Presented by Bell.

For Rivard, Canada’s most successful international Para swimmer for the past decade, Paris would represent a fourth Games appearance.

The 27-year-old S10 swimmer clocked four minutes and 33.64 seconds in the 400-metre freestyle, the best time in the world this year in her class, to go below the A standard in her first race of the meet. She is the world record holder and reigning two-time Paralympic champion in the event.

However Rivard has struggled in the 400 the past two seasons. She didn’t finish the race at the 2022 worlds and withdrew from the final at last year’s worlds in Manchester.

‘’It’s my toughest race physically and I needed to find some confidence again,’’ said Rivard, in the media scrum. ‘’Tonight was a physical and mental victory for me.’’

Duchesne, 23, beat the A standard for the 400 free S7 class finishing in 5:24.68 to put her name in the hat for a third Games. She was a member of the bronze medal winning relay team at Tokyo 2020. Wednesday’s achievement brought needed joy to a tough year.

‘’I’ve been sick and had injuries and I’m thankful I was able to put that behind me for the trials,’’ said Duchesne. ‘’My training in the last two months was really intense and the work paid off in the end.’’

A new name emerged as well on Wednesday as 16-year-old Reid Maxwell of Edmonton swam the A standard for the men’s S8 400 free. He lowered his own Canadian S8 record to 4:28.20, more than 12 seconds under the qualifying time.  Maxwell has been making noise on the national scene for the past year and is now on track for his first Paralympics.

‘’I’m really happy right now, that 400 free was great,’’ said the towering 6’4’’ leg amputee. ‘’Technique wise I just felt really good and I think the crowd in the last 100 carried me through to the finish.’’

Finally, in the men’s 150 individual medley, Sebastian Massabie from Pacific Sea Wolves Swim Club in B.C. didn’t meet the SM4 standard but set a national record of 3:00.34 in the morning preliminaries. 

After three days of competition, eight Para swimmers (two men and six women) have beaten the A standard. Canada is allocated spots for seven men and 15 women for the Games.

The seven-day competition runs through Sunday at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, with the Canadian teams for Paris 2024 set to be announced officially at the end of the final evening.

The trials are being carried live on CBC.ca . Preliminaries are at 9:30 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. ET each day.

QUALIFIED FOR NOMINATION (“A” qualifying time): PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES (after Day 3 of Trials)