The Canadian team went through various emotions on the third day of the Para Swimming World Championships in Madeira.
If Tess Routliffe’s gold medals and Alec Elliot’s bronze medals brought great happiness, the sudden abandonment of Aurélie Rivard caused concern at the Olympic Aquatic Complex in Madeira, Portugal.
Two days after his victory in the 50m freestyle (S10), Rivard left the pool in the middle of the 400m freestyle final in the same category.
Rescuers rushed him to cover him with a blanket and oxygen mask.
The multiple Paralympic medalist sat up and seemed conscious of receiving first aid, but it’s not clear right now why he abruptly ended his run.
The athlete from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu led the race by half a point. After slowing down, he stopped at the 250m mark. He rested for a moment clinging to the edge of the pool, then turned to exit the pool.
Aurélie had to withdraw from the event due to a medical concern, Mike Thompson, coach at Swimming Canada, said in a press release. We don’t know what the condition is at this point. We are waiting for an update.
Routliffe, a Calendon, Ont., Native practitioner in Montreal, was crowned with 100 breaststrokes (SB7). His time of 1 min 31 s 91/100 allows him at the same time to lower the Canadian record.
I’m speechless! I’m just really happylaunched the new world champion, with a huge burst of laughter, in an interview with the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
The silver medalist in this event in the 2019 worlds had to miss the Tokyo Games due to a spinal injury.
In the 400m (S10) freestyle, Alec Elliot climbed to the third step of the podium after a good fight against Dutchman Bas Takken, 2nd behind Italian Stefano Raimondi.
Sportcom
Source: Radio-Canada
