SANTIAGO, Chile – Rachel Nicol has been working her entire swimming career for a golden moment.
On Saturday at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, the 30-year-old put it all together in the women’s 100-m breaststroke to launch a four-medal day one for Canada.
The University of Calgary Swim Club athlete was in fifth place at the turn, but overtook all competitors on the way home to stop the clock at 1:07.28. Right behind her at 1:07.55 was Sophie Angus of the High Performance Centre – Ontario for the silver.
It was the fastest time in more than six years for Nicol, who made her senior national team debut at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games.
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“I struggled through injury, I struggled through mental health, I struggled through the pandemic and moving around. I’m eight years older than I was then and I never really thought that I would get back here, so saying that it means a lot doesn’t encapsulate how much it actually means,” Nicol said.
Nicol’s second 50-metres of 34.58 was faster than her fifth-place finish at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and faster than any back half in this year’s World Aquatics Championships final.
“I can’t say that I ever really dreamed of this honestly. Just making it back to Pan Ams was a really big deal for me,” Nicol said.
Meanwhile, Angus, who helped Canada to a women’s medley relay bronze at worlds, continued her strong year.
“It feels incredible. I didn’t have huge expectations coming in, I just wanted to enjoy the experience. So to walk away with a silver medal is beyond anything I could have imagined for this week,” said Angus, 24.
Nicol stepped down to stand with Angus on the podium as O Canada played in El Centro Acuático del Parque Estadio Nacional.
“I’ve been racing Rachel for years and she’s such a great teammate to have beside me. She’s always been super supportive, so for the two of us as Canadian breaststrokers to be up there for Canada, it’s really exciting to be standing next to her,” Angus said.
Speaking of veterans, Katerine Savard anchored the women’s 4×100-m freestyle relay team to gold, returning to the top of the Pan Am podium she ascended in 2015. Mary-Sophie Harvey led off in a personal best 54.69 to start Canada in second and Brooklyn Douthwright held them in third before Maggie Mac Neil jumped in to move Canada into the lead. Savard held on to finish in 3:37.75, ahead of Team USA (3:38.42).
“I’ve done a lot of things in my life the last 15 years, but anchoring a relay representing your country, I think that’s one of the most stressful things I’ve experienced in my career. I know the pressure is on me, I know the other three girls have done their jobs, and I really wanted to do well for the team,” said the 31-year-old.
Preliminary swimmers Emma O’Croinin and Julie Brousseau also receive medals.
“It took six to make this relay with the two girls this morning and we all did an amazing job.”
Savard was part of the 2015 team with Michelle Williams, Sandrine Mainville and Chantal Van Landeghem whose Pan Am Games record 3:36.80 still stands today.
“It’s one of the best memories of my life,” Savard said. “To do it eight years later being the oldest, it’s a moment I hope I’ll remember my whole life. You don’t get to experience these feelings very often and to live it with these other girls, it’s something I can’t even describe.”
The men’s 4×100-m freestyle relay followed up with a bronze medal to finish the session. The team of Javier Acevedo, Edouard Fullum-Huot, Stephen Calkins and Finlay Knox combined for a time of 3:15.83.
“It looked like everyone was ripping it so it was really fun,” said Calkins, Nicol’s UCSC teammate, who nearly retired from swimming after last year’s Trials before being added to the national team as an injury replacement. “It’s kind of a weird changeup to think I could have been working instead of swimming. I’m happy I stayed in it. It’s hard but I’m having good results.”
Morning swimmers Jeremy Bagshaw and Blake Tierney also receive medals.
Canada just missed another medal in the women’s 200-m butterfly. Katie Forrester, a product of Markham Aquatic Club, finished fourth in 2:12.90 to cap her first day competing on the senior national team.
“It was a very new experience and I’m so proud to be representing Canada here,” said Forrester, 19. “I’m super excited for what’s to come.”
Fellow rookie Brousseau, of Ottawa’s Nepean Kanata Barracudas, started Canada strong with a personal best 4:11.32 to finish fifth in the women’s 400-m freestyle final.
“I didn’t find out until yesterday that I’d be swimming, so it’s been a pretty busy day but I’m just super happy about the chance to do this race,” said Brousseau, who took home seven medals from this summer World Aquatics Junior Championships.
Brousseau now turns her focus to Tuesday’s 400 individual medley, which she enters as top seed.
“I have some time to rest and refocus up for the next one,” said the 17-year-old. “It’s been so fun so far and great to swim here with all these Canadians.”
In other finals Saturday, Kevin Zhang finished fifth in the men’s 200-m butterfly (1:59.30) and Gabe Mastromatteo finished sixth in the men’s 100-m breaststroke (1:01.39)
The five-day meet continues Sunday. The 36-swimmer team (19 men, 17 women) features some of Canada’s best swimmers, with a mix of up-and-coming rookies.
International medallists including three-time Olympian Savard, two-time Olympians Sydney Pickrem and Acevedo, and Olympic champion Mac Neil are joined by seven swimmers on their first senior national team.
Canada will be back in action for Day 2, with heats beginning at 8 a.m. ET and finals at 3 p.m. ET. Mac Neil will hit the water in her signature 100-m butterfly, sitting as top seed, while Savard enters fourth.
Olympian and world medallist Harvey enters the 200 free seeded second. Hugh McNeill of UBC, who made his national team debut at worlds this summer, is seeded third in the 200 back, one spot ahead of Raben Dommann of the High Performance Centre – Vancouver. Olympian Knox, Dommann’s HPC-Vancouver teammate, enters fifth in the men’s 100 fly.
CBC Sports is streaming on multiple channels each day on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem. Those platforms will also carry a live show weekdays starting at 6 p.m. ET, hosted by Anastasia Bucsis and featuring a mix of live events and highlights with a focus on Canadian athletes. The CBC TV network will have additional coverage on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, hosted by Scott Russell and Andi Petrillo.
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