Swimming | Kylie Masse, the other medalist

(Paris) The Olympic swimming pool has been a place where anything is possible since the beginning of the Games. Between the records of Léon Marchand and the feats of Summer McIntosh, Kylie Masse has found a way to shine.

In fact, she found a way to make Canadian swimming history. On Friday night, her bronze medal in the 200m backstroke made her the first Canadian swimmer to reach the podium at three consecutive Olympic Games.

The 28-year-old Ontarian had three medals won at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and one in Rio in 2016.

“It’s quite an honour. At the same time, being on the podium was the goal when we arrived here,” said the back specialist, still out of breath.

While his goals were clear, his chances of achieving them were less so.

She won silver in Tokyo in that event, yes. But at the 2022 and 2023 world championships, she finished fifth. “It wasn’t an easy road,” Masse admitted. In the meantime, swimmers like Australian Kaylee McKeown and American Regan Smith have continued to improve. They even beat the Canadian on the podium at the Paris La Défense Arena.

In the second lane, Masse had only one thing on his mind. “I knew I had to go fast from the start and keep up the pace.”

She just so happened to have the best start of the eight swimmers, which allowed her to touch the wall first, 50 meters later. She swam in the lead group throughout the race, until she was able to beat the young American Phoebe Bacon by a few arm strokes. “The last 15 meters were painful. I had to stay strong. I knew it was going to be close. Everyone knew that.”

Her time of 2 min 05.57 s was 15 hundredths slower than in Tokyo. She also climbed one step less on the podium than in Tokyo. Nevertheless, the satisfaction was certainly not less, judging by the expression on her face. “I am especially proud of the path I have taken.”

During the last Olympic cycle, Masse moved to Spain to reunite with renowned coach Ben Titley. In the Barcelona area, she also resumed her studies in the health field. There, she found “a balance that fits better.”

“I focused on my studies,” she added. “I had homework, exams, new friends at school. And being away from my family, in Spain, allowed me to find myself and learn a new way of life.”

Josh Liendo, narrowly

Josh Liendo is another swimmer from the Canadian squad whose medal chances were mixed.

Eighteenth at the Tokyo Games in the 50m freestyle, he delivered top 10 at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships over the distance.

From the eighth and final lane, the 21-year-old Canadian was competing in his first individual Olympic final. With American Caeleb Dressel, Australian Cameron McEvoy and Frenchman Florent Manaudou in his group, Liendo had to come close to perfection to be able to inherit a medal.

In the end, he came within two hundredths of a second of perfection and a place on the podium. His time of 21.58 seconds was not enough. “It’s frustrating to come so close,” he said of his fourth position.

The last to start his strides after the gun sounded, he had his best moments in the water inside the last 10 meters. “I caught up. It’s easier for me that way, but maybe I could have done it differently.”

McEvoy (21.25 s), the British Benjamin Proud (21.30 s) and Manaudou (21.56 s) respectively left with gold, silver and bronze.

Leon’s Games

Léon Marchand is already part of a generation of young prodigies who are recognized by their first names alone. Like Kylian, Carlos and Summer.

To conclude another night where he was billed as the main headliner, Marchand had the chance to achieve what no French athlete had ever done: win four gold medals at the same Olympic Games.

The evening of his final individual event of the Games was no exception when he was presented to the audience that is now his.

In pursuit of another triumph, this time in the 200m medley, the king of the oceans, as he is nicknamed, was true to form. China’s Shun Wang beat him in the first 50 metres, but as soon as Marchand turned onto his back, he took the lead for good.

His lead was enough for the French public, which included President Emmanuel Macron, to take the time to appreciate the mastery, aplomb and domination of this 22-year-old phenomenon, born in Toulouse.

Marchand came close to Ryan Lochte’s 2011 world record of 1:54.00 by just six hundredths of a second. His time of 1:54.06 was enough to beat Michael Phelps’ 2008 Olympic mark by 17 hundredths of a second. Four gold medals, four Olympic records for the Frenchman.

In the most complete delirium, Marchand raised four fingers in the air. He then came out of the water, acclaimed like a demigod, welcoming this load of love by opening his arms wide.

“It’s hard to describe the feeling,” he said, after at least an hour had passed since his victory. “I’m a very shy, reserved person. It’s not my comfort zone, but I managed to express myself really well in my line 4. I just wanted to explode my joy.”

After the title in the 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly and 400m medley, another gold medal was added to a collection that should grow in the years to come.

“For me, it was not even possible to do this kind of thing,” he said, almost embarrassed.

“I had four chances to win my medal, which was my dream. I did it on the first day. And then, in my head, I had a pretty crazy challenge to set myself,” he says of his feat.

As he left the mixed zone, Marchand could still hear the crowd shouting his name. As if they were asking for an encore. The hero of an entire nation will have to get used to it, because his new life will have nothing to do with the one he led until last week.

“I work every day for gold, so it’s not something surprising. But to do it four times, concretely, in front of 15,000 people chanting my name, with a lot of pressure on my shoulders, it’s huge. I’m so proud.”