Jean-Michel
Lavallière

Jean-Michel Lavallière announced his retirement from competitive Para swimming after a record performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Lavallière finished fourth and set a new Canadian record in the S7 50-m freestyle.

At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Lavallière swam in three events. His best finish was 10th in both the 50-m freestyle and the 50-m butterfly. He finished 12th in the 100-m freestyle. He contributed to a Canadian record in the 34pts 4×100-m medley relay, which finished 7th.

Lavallière continued to build on the success in 2015. He won four individual and two relay silver medals at the 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games and set a Canadian record in the 100-m backstroke. At the IPC World Championships in Glasgow he swam four individual events and two relays.

Lavallière enjoyed his biggest international success in 2014 with a triple medal performance at the Pan Pacific Para-swimming Championships. Lavallière earned silver medals in the 50-m freestyle and 100-m freestyle and bronze in the 50-m butterfly.

In 2013 at the IPC Worlds in Montreal, he neared the podium in two events, finishing fourth in the 200-m individual medley in Canadian record time and fifth in the 50-m butterfly. His time in the 50-m fly was both a Canadian and Pan American record.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2018 Commonwealth Games… 2016 Paralympic Games… 2015 Parapan Am Games… 2013 and 2015 IPC World Championships… Canada’s flag bearer at the 2013 IPC World Championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands…

PERSONAL

Started swimming lessons at age 12 when the rehabilitation centre in Quebec City launched a new program that included pool work. His first club, Club de natation CSQ, soon got involved and Lavallière quickly was part of the club.

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

2018 Commonwealth Games 4th 50-m freestyle

2016 Paralympic Games 7th 4X100 medley relay

2015 IPC Worlds 6th200-m IM

2015 Parapan American Games 2nd 50-m free

2015 Parapan American Games 2nd 200-m IM

2015 Parapan American Games 2nd 100-m free

2015 Parapan American Games 2nd 50-m fly

2015 Parapan American Games 2nd 4X100-m freestyle relay

2015 Parapan American Games 2nd 4X100-m medley relay

2013 IPC World Championships 4th 200-m IM

2013 IPC World Championships 4th 5th 50-m fly