Artistic swimmer Audrey Lamothe has two reasons to be floating on cloud nine these days: not only will she be participating in the Paris Olympics, when until recently she thought she was too young to do so at 19, but she will also be teaming up with an idol, Jacqueline Simoneau. “I’ve always dreamed of going to the Olympics. But to go with a veteran, one of the best swimmers in the world, is the cherry on top!”
This will be a third Olympic experience for Jacqueline Simoneau. An unexpected participation since she had announced her retirement after Tokyo in 2021 to devote herself to her studies in pediatric medicine. “At my first Olympic Games, I was with my mentor Karine Thomas. She was 27 and I was 19, Audrey’s age. I am ending my career by coming full circle,” she says during a training session at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
A duo assembled at full speed
Before coming out of retirement at the end of 2023, Jacqueline Simoneau wanted to make sure she had a duet partner in anticipation of the Games, since the free solo, her specialty, is no longer part of the Olympic events. So she wrote to Audrey Lamothe herself in the hopes of a final participation. The magic happened right away.
“We started working together at Christmas. We had about a month before the Olympic qualification to put together a duet, by ourselves,” recalls Audrey Lamothe. They finished fifth in the free duet event at the World Championships in Doha in February. Jacqueline was crowned world champion in the free solo event.
“The duos we’re going to compete against in Paris have been swimming together for over a decade. The chemistry is already there. For us, it was a more express method,” explains Jacqueline Simoneau.
Both swimmers still believe in their chances of delivering a solid performance in Paris, and perhaps even winning a medal for Canada. “Even though we had a short period of time, we want to get the greatest potential out of our duo. I think it will be a very big victory, beyond the score,” said Audrey Lamothe.
The young swimmer realizes how lucky she is to compete alongside an experienced partner who can teach her how to become a better athlete. “What I enjoyed most was our relationship outside of the pool. Learning about Jacqueline’s experiences throughout her career is something I’ll carry with me for years to come.”