Sebastian Massabie breaks world record at Canadian Swimming Championships

Sebastian Massabie of Surrey, B.C. might need his own chapter in the Canadian Para swimming record book.

The 19-year-old with cerebral palsy capped a record-breaking week at the Pan Am Sports Centre with the world record in the men’s S4 50m butterfly on Sunday clocking 38.02 seconds. He initially broke it in the prelims with a 38.48.

He held the previous mark at 38.68 set at the Paralympic Games Trials this past May at the same pool. Massabie has now lowered the previously 10-year-old mark four times this year.

Massabie also set national marks at nationals in the S4 200m freestyle, SM4 150m individual medley and the S4 50m freestyle.

Paris 2024 will be Massabie’s first Paralympic team.

“I feel good. I think it will set in when I get there,” he said.

Three other Canadian Para swimming records were lowered.

Reid Maxwell of Edmonton chased down his national record in the men’s 100-metre S8 category.

“I’m feeling good,” said Maxwell. “I’m not rested at this meet so dropping time is definitely a good thing”.

Maxwell is headed to his first Paralympic Games as well, and a personal best swim less than five weeks out instills confidence. Maxwell edged closer to his goal of going under a minute with a final time of 1:00.15.

“I keep bumping up against that minute mark but eventually I’ll be under it. I’m hoping to go under it in Paris,” added Maxwell.

Alisson Gobeil of Alma, Que. took down the women’s 50-metre freestyle S5 national mark lowering the time from 42.21 with a 41.81 morning swim.

Marian Barbu’s morning swim in the men’s S6 100-metre freestyle broke a Canadian record that had stood since 1996.

Barbu of St-Eustache, Que. clocked 1:15.58 in the prelims then 1:14.98 in the final eclipsing the 1:16.26 from 1996 by Benny Galati.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will begin with the Opening Ceremony on August 28 and continue through September 8. Audiences can tune in for CBC/Radio-Canada’s coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8 on CBC, CBC Gem, CBC’s Paris 2024 website (cbc.ca/paris2024) and the CBC Paris 2024 app in English and on ICI TÉLÉ, ICI TOU.TV, Radio-Canada.ca/paris2024, and on the Radio-Canada Paralympiques app in French.