TORONTO – Marian Barbu’s morning swim in the men’s 100-metre freestyle para multi-class broke a Canadian record that had stood since 1996.
The start of day three of the Canadian Championships brought some of the fastest swimming since the 20th century.
Marian Barbu of the Club aquatique st-eustache was just looking to have fun and swim well in prelims. That was until he broke a Canadian record that had stood for almost thirty years.
Barbu raced to the wall in a time of 1:15.58 eclipsing the men’s 100-metre freestyle S6 record of 1:16.26 from 1996 that Benny Galati had held.
I’m not going to lie, it was pretty tiring,” said Barbu. “I wasn’t sure I was going to feel that good in the water but once I got into the water everything faded away and I focused on what I had to do.”
Barbu was not finished and delivered another great swim to lower his morning record by another 0.6 seconds with a 1:14.98 finish.
“I talked it over with my coach. I wanted to swim a bit more controlled and be a bit more conscious,” added Barbu. “I’m very happy with it but I know I can be even better.”
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Just a few lanes over in the same final, Reid Maxwell of the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club 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 this year and a personal best swim less than five weeks out instills confidence for Paris.
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.
Maxwell will continue to work and looks to lower his 400-metre freestyle Canadian record at the Paralympics.
Over on the women’s side, Madison Kryger from Brock Niagara Aquatics took home gold in the women’s 200-metre backstroke 15-17 age group with a 2:13.38 swim.
Kryger (15) came third overall in the same event at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Trials just behind Olympians Kylie Masse and Regan Rathwell.
The men’s 200-metre backstroke had a familiar face claiming the national title in the 16-18 age group. Aiden Norman of the University of Calgary Swim Club successfully defended his 2023 title with a personal best of 1:57.75.
This makes Norman 2-for-2 as he also defended his 100-metre backstroke national title on Wednesday.
Kryger and Norman look to continue their success at the Junior Pan Pacific’s later this year.
Paralympian Nicholas Bennett of the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club added in a solid performance in the men’s 100-metre freestyle multi-class. Bennett took the national title in 52.54, only 0.12 seconds off his Canadian record.
Below is a complete list of national champions from Day 3.
DAY 3 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS – JULY 26
Women
100 freestyle (Para multi-class): Mary Jibb, Muskoka Aquatic Club, 1:05.70
100 freestyle (13-14): Kelly Choi, Kelowna Aquajets, 56.97
100 freestyle (15-17): Delia Lloyd, Etobicoke Swimming, 55.01
100 freestyle (18+): Katerine Savard, Club de natation région de Québec, 55.54
200 backstroke (13-14): Muqing Zhang, Vancouver Pacific Swim Club, 2:17.82
200 backstroke (15-17): Madison Kryger, Brock Niagara Aquatics, 2:13.38
200 backstroke (18+): Bridget Burton, University of British Colombia Thunderbirds, 2:14.37
Men
100 freestyle (Para multi-class): Nicolas Bennett, Red Deer Catalina Swim Club, 52.54
100 freestyle (14-15): Henri Vaillancourt, Club aquatique Montréal, 53.34
100 freestyle (16-18): Ali Sayed Club aquatique Montreal, 49.11
100 freestyle (19+): Hocine Feddag, Club aquatique Montreal, 50.66
200 backstroke (14-15): Liam Chew, Kelowna Aquajets, 2:09.46
200 backstroke (16-18): Aiden Norman, University of Calgary Swim Club, 1:57.75
200 backstroke (19+): Hugh McNeill, University of British Colombia Thunderbirds, 1:59.52
1500 freestyle (14-15): Oliver Blanchard, Pointe-Claire Swim Club, 15.59.99
1500 freestyle (16-18): Max Vorobiev, Markham Aquatic Club, 15:39.64
1500 freestyle (19+): Eric Brown, Pointe-Claire Swim Club, 15:28.50
Relays
4 x 100 Mixed Freestyle Relay (13-15): University of Calgary Swim Club 5, 3:43.69
4 x 100 Mixed Freestyle Relay (16+): University of Calgary Swim Club 1, 3:31.27