After a Tokyo Paralympic Games last summer where they all made an impact, Aurélie Rivard, Nicolas-Guy Turbide, and Nicholas Bennett have been named 2021 recipients of Swimming Canada’s annual awards this week.
Rivard from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. is Female Para Swimmer of the Year for the fifth time following an incredible Paralympic Games in which she captured two gold, one silver, and two bronze medals to bring her career total to 10 podiums. Competing in her third Games at the age of 25, she was champion in both the 100m and 400m freestyle S10, shattering her own world records in both events. She also took silver in the 100m backstroke and bronze in the 50m freestyle, while also helping Canada to third in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
The Male Para Swimmer of the Year is Turbide, a silver medallist at the Tokyo Games. The 25-year-old from Quebec City overcame a back injury that interrupted his training leading into the summer to claim his second consecutive 100m backstroke S13 podium. He upgraded his bronze from 2016 to a silver medal in Tokyo thanks to a strong back 50m which propelled him from fourth at the turn to second place. He also was a finalist in the 50m freestyle, finishing eighth. This is the fourth time Turbide has been selected as Canada’s male Para swimmer of the year.
Rounding out the Para swimming awards is Bennett, the Breakout Performer of the Year (Paralympic Program). Bennett, who was one of Canada’s emerging young stars at the Parapan Am Games in 2019, made his Paralympic debut in Tokyo at the age of 17. Competing in the S14 classification, the Parksville, BC swimmer set four Canadian records and made three finals in Tokyo with his best result a fifth place in the 100m breaststroke.
For more, read Swimming Canada’s features on each of the award winners:
[Link] Rivard makes history with fifth Female Para Swimmer of the Year award
[Link] Perseverance pays off for Male Para Swimmer of the Year Turbide
