Paralympic Medallists Lead Swimming Canada to Para World Championships 

VICTORIA – Swimming Canada has announced the team selected to compete at the World Para Swimming Championships Sept. 21–27 in Singapore.
 
The team will consist of 19 swimmers, including 12 female and 7 male athletes.
 
The athletes were selected based on their performances during the six-day Bell Canadian Swimming Trials held at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
 
Included on the team are Paris 2024 Paralympics medallists and Canadian record holders such as Nicholas Bennett, Reid Maxwell and Danielle Dorris.
Bennett, an S14 swimmer who trains with the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club, won (three) individual events during the trials plus broke his own Canadian record in the 100-m butterfly.  Competing at his second Paralympics in Paris, Bennett won gold in the 100-m breaststroke and 200 individual medley plus silver in the 200 freestyle. He currently holds the world record in the 200 IM.
 
“Competing at the international level is great,” said Bennett who earned silver medals in the 200 freestyle and 200 IM at the Madeira 2022 World Para Championships. “We will just try to see what we can do after a Paralympic year.
 
“I have five months to train, so it’s exciting. When we get a little bit more endurance under our belt, we’ll be able to challenge my world record.”
Maxwell of the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club broke his own Canadian record in the SM8 200 IM.
 
Competing at his first Paralympics in Paris Maxwell claimed silver in the 400-m freestyle in Canadian record time.
 
“I’m excited,” Maxwell said about competing in Singapore. “It’s another chance to represent Canada and perform at my best.
 
“Paris was a hell of a lot of fun. I’m excited for worlds.”
 
Dorris, who trains with the Club de Natation Bleu et Or in Moncton, N.B., defended her Paralympic title in the 50-m butterfly in Paris. At the Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships, Dorris won gold in the S7 50-m butterfly and captured silver in the 100-m backstroke.
 
“For me, especially being from a smaller province in Canada, I think it’s pretty cool to be able to represent my province on an international stage,” said Dorris, who holds the world record in the 50 fly. “It’s just pretty amazing. And as a small town girl being in a big city, it’s really fun.”
 
Sebastain Massabie, who swims for the Pacific Sea Wolves from Surrey, B.C., will compete in his first world championships.
 
At the Paris Paralympics he won gold in the S4 50m freestyle in world record time. In Singapore he will compete in the S5 category.
 
During the trials, Massabie set two Canadian records.
 
“I’m looking forward to working with each athlete, their personal coaches, and our staff as we continue building toward peak performance in Singapore. This week in Victoria showed that our athletes are ready to rise to the challenge at the first international championship of the new Paralympic Games cycle. This tour is a great opportunity to further strengthen the culture and environment of our program,” said team Head Coach, Ryan Allen.
 
“With 8 Canadian records set and 6 athletes delivering performances that would have placed in the Top 5 at the Paris Paralympic Games, I’m excited to see what this team will achieve in Singapore. We’ll see 7 athletes represent Canada at their first World Championships, each having posted multiple lifetime bests this week. The experience and leadership of our veterans will be vital to our success this summer, and I couldn’t be more proud to see this team come together.”
 
 
J-P Lavoie, Swimming Canada’s Interim Technical and Program Lead, Paralympic Program, believes the team has the ingredients for podium success in Singapore.
 
“This team brings together an incredible group of experienced swimmers who have proudly represented Canada over many years, alongside a new generation of talented athletes ready to represent Canada with pride this fall in Singapore,” said Lavoie. “One third of the team will be competing in their first World Championships, while two thirds are seasoned veterans.
 
“At the same time, I want to recognize the talent and excitement of our three athletes making their senior national team debut.”