PARIS – Danielle Dorris did it again. The 21-year-old from Moncton, N.B., repeated as women’s 50-m butterfly S7 champion Saturday at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Her time of 33.62 was comfortably ahead of American Mallory Weggemann (34.94) for the win. Italy’s Giulia Terzi took bronze (35.40), while Tess Routliffe of Caledon, Ont., was fourth (36.38.)
Dorris set the world record of 32.99 to win the gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games three years ago, and matched it in May at the Olympic & Paralympic Trials, Presented by Bell. Already the two-time defending world champion, she is the first Canadian Para swimmer since Walter Wu in 2000 – and first Canadian female ever – to repeat as Paralympic champion in a butterfly event.
“Coming in I was hoping for a world record but I cannot complain coming out with a medal in my favourite event on the last day of competition where everyone’s usually tired but I was ready to go. I’m just very happy and glad that it’s over and I can go relax,” said Dorris, who trains with Ryan Allen at the Club de Natation Bleu et Or.
Dorris had a long wait for her signature event after coming sixth in the 200-m individual medley S7 a week ago.
“Having that race on Day 3 to get me used to this environment really helped me prepare for today. After that race we really just got in the gear of switching the mindset to the 50 fly, of getting the repetition in of how fast I can dive off the blocks and my speed in this race,” she said. “I think I prepared enough and the results showed that so I’m very happy.”
The three-time Paralympian appreciated hearing O Canada from the top step of the podium in a packed Paris La Défense Arena.
“Having fans here is a big upgrade. Incredible. Expectations blown. The crowd was amazing,” she said. “Being able to see my family in the stands was very special and it was a lot of fun. I’m very happy with this medal and it’s very special. A big factor is my parents being here and being able to watch that happen.”
The gold was Canada’s 13th medal (five gold, four silver, four bronze). That’s the most total medals since London 2012 most gold since Beijing 2008 (seven). Nick Bennett of Parksville, B.C., who won two gold, has been named one of Canada’s Closing Ceremony flag bearers, along with Para canoe’s Brianna Hennessy.
Earlier in Saturday’s final session, Saskatoon’s Shelby Newkirk captured her first career Paralympic medal, taking bronze in the women’s 100-m backstroke S6. China’s Yuyan Jiang set a world record of 1:19.44 to win, followed by American Ellie Marks (1:20.34) and Newkirk (1:22.24).
“I really just gave everything I could. Honestly, I was definitely very excited as soon as I realized that I got bronze. It’s been a goal for so long. It was a goal in Tokyo, I came in fourth, I came in fourth earlier this week (in the 50 freestyle), so to finally be able to break on to that podium was such an amazing feeling,” said the 28-year-old, who trains with coach Ryan Jones with the Saskatoon Lasers Swim Club. “At the same time, I was so exhausted at the end, all I could kind of do was hold on to the rope and hope that we could clear the water gracefully. Thankfully I had my coach to help me out because I was done.”
The two-time defending world champion also cherished the opportunity for her family to see her on the podium in person.
“It’s everything I’ve wanted for so long and we’ve worked towards. I was on the podium and I briefly looked over and saw my mom wiping her face and I was like, ‘Oh no don’t start’ because I’m going to start crying too. But it was just so amazing to have that moment and I’m definitely so happy,” Newkirk said. “So many people have helped me along this journey, so many people have believed in me before I could believe in myself, and so many people have really got me to this point. So while I’m the one holding this medal right now, I hope that everybody that has ever supported me understands that they’re part of this journey, part of this award.”
In Saturday’s final race, Canada came eighth in the 34-point mixed 4×100-m freestyle relay. The team of Aurélie Rivard, Alec Elliot, Reid Maxwell and Shelby Newkirk combined for a time of 4:13.17.
For full results please see https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/paralympic-games/schedule/para-swimming?day=7-september
Canadian Para swimming medals at Paris 2024 (13)
Gold (5): Nicholas Bennett, men’s 100 breaststroke SB14, 1:03.98; Nicholas Bennett, men’s 200 individual medley SM14, 2:06.05; Aurélie Rivard, women’s 400 freestyle S10, 4:29.20; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 50 freestyle S4, 35.61; Danielle Dorris, women’s 50 butterfly S7, 33.62
Silver (4): Nicholas Bennett, men’s 200 freestyle S14, 1:53.61; Tess Routliffe, women’s 200 individual medley SM7, 2:57.17; Aurélie Rivard, women’s 100 freestyle S10, 1:00.82; Reid Maxwell, men’s 400 freestyle S8, 4:25.95
Bronze (4): Aurélie Rivard, women’s 50 freestyle S10, 27.62; Katie Cosgriffe, women’s 100 butterfly S10, 1:07.22; Tess Routliffe, women’s 100 breaststroke SB7, 1:31.58; Shelby Newkirk, women’s 100 backstroke S6, 1:22.24
Team Canada Para swimming records at Paris 2024
World record: Sebastian Massabie, men’s 50 freestyle S4, 35.61
Paralympic records (3 including world record): Nicholas Bennett, men’s 200 individual medley SM14, 2:06.05; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 50 freestyle S4, 36.95;
Americas records (4 including world record): Reid Maxwell, men’s 400 freestyle S8, 4:25.95; Reid Maxwell, men’s 400 freestyle S8, 4:23.90; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 50 freestyle S4, 36.95;
Canadian records (9 including Americas records): Sebastian Massabie, men’s 100 freestyle S4, 1:23.80; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 100 freestyle S4, 1:22.53; Nicholas Bennett, men’s 200 freestyle S14, 1:53.61; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 200 freestyle S4, 3:02.28; Sebastian Massabie, men’s 200 freestyle S4, 2:59.15.