Mortimer records fourth world record at Can\Am championships
Summer Mortimer of Ancaster, Ont., completed a repeat performance of her world championship showing this past summer with a fourth gold medal in world record time on Sunday to conclude the nine-country Can\Am Paraswimming championships.
In the women’s 50 backstroke in the S10 disability category, Mortimer clocked 32.06 seconds in the preliminaries to lower her previous world mark of 32.53 set his past May. In the final she swam 32.14 for her fourth gold medal. This weekend she also won the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200 backstroke, all in world record times.
Amber Thomas of Drayton Valley, Alta., also completed a strong weekend with two more victories on Sunday placing first in the 400 freestyle and 100 butterfly in the S11 category for visually impaired.
“They weren’t my best times but I was successful with my new strategies,” said Thomas, 17, who did set personal best times in five of her seven races this weekend. “I’m improving on different levels and getting more confident.”
Sarah Mehain of Vernon, B.C., posted two wins on Sunday in the S7 400 freestyle and 100 butterfly and Devin Gotell of Antigonish, N.S., did the same in the men’s S13 400 freestyle and 50 backstroke.
‘’I was particularly impressed with the performances of our young kids,’’ said Craig McCord head coach of Canada’s Para swimming team. ‘’We’re not only looking good for London in 2012 but we are building towards Rio as well in 2006.’’
Jessica Sloan inducted into Circle of Excellence
Jessica Sloan of Calgary and now living in Toronto, was inducted into Swimming Canada’s Circle of Excellence in a special ceremony at the meet on Sunday. Sloan won six gold medals, all in world record time at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney.
‘’It was really emotional to relive those Sydney memories again,’’ said Sloan, now 28. ‘’It was special to be honoured tonight and it’s a ceremony I will never forget.’’
Full results are available on-line at https://www.swimming.ca/liveresults/10SpeedoCanAm/
