Two years after her surprise qualification for the Tokyo Olympics, Katerine Savard has shown that she will still have to be counted on in the 100m butterfly for the Paris Games, where she will be aiming for an unprecedented fourth selection next year for a Canadian swimmer.
Slowed down by health problems during the winter, the 29-year-old athlete used her experience to finish second in her favorite event at the Canadian Trials in Toronto on Wednesday evening.
Only Maggie Mac Neil, reigning Olympic gold medalist, beat the Quebecer in this race where the two swimmers secured their place for the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, next summer.
“That was the goal and I’m really happy,” Savard said over the phone after his cool-down swim and a massage.
Casually, it’s still the 14e year that I make the national team. I’m very proud of that. The weather is very good too. Life gave me a few little challenges this year, but I responded really well to that. I am very happy with the work we have done.
Katerine Savard
Fresh from the NCAA Championships, where she set a 50-yard record, Mac Neil led the way in 56.54 s, a world high in 2023.
Second in the preliminaries, Savard had an excellent start and maintained the pace to cross the two lengths in 57.81 s, half a second better than the minimum time required by World Aquatics to have two representatives of the same country in an event. .
Even better, she achieved the Olympic standard already announced for next year.
“It’s really positive. That’s what I had in mind today. The more I do it, the more confidence it will give me. There, I proved it to myself. It guarantees absolutely nothing, but just telling me that I am able to pass under this standard is reassuring. Especially since I don’t think I’ve been at my peak in the last few months. »
PHOTO MICHAEL P. HALL, SUPPLIED BY SWIMMING CANADA
Maggie MacNeil and Katerine Savard
After the race, Savard and Mac Neil gave each other a warm hug. Obviously, the current passes between the two.
“It seems like swimming next to her reassures me a little,” agreed Savard. I know her and I know the way she swims. I get along really well with her. I am very happy to make the team once again with her. »
The CAMO club flyer had not been so fast since the preliminaries of the Tokyo Games in July 2021. Her time of 57.51 s had allowed her to reach the semi-final.
Savard believes he can get closer to this time for his sixth long-course World Championships next summer in Japan.
“We are talking about two tenths. What is two tenths? One breath too many? Honestly, I think it’s very possible. At this point, these are small technical details. I feel good physically and mentally. I’ll try to build trust on that. »
I just have to keep fighting and responding to the challenges that will come my way.
Katerine Savard
Coach Greg Arkhust made it a goal. “Coming back with the best is what we want,” he said. But the terms will inevitably change because she is no longer 18 or 19 like when she was doing her best times. She is now 29. You can do better by swimming a little differently, maybe start a little slower and focus more on the return. »
The one who took over from Claude St-Jean after Tokyo praised the commitment of the former fifth in the world, believing that she has “ample the level of being an Olympic finalist”.
“She’s 29 on her ID, but she’s training like a junior. She arrives with a smile, she has fun. She has her little moments of doubt like any athlete, but she is still very fresh. The coolest thing is that it’s a great human adventure. That’s what I remember. »
Savard will dive again on Thursday for the 50m freestyle, a question of getting into speed mode for the 100m the next day.
After her sixth place the day before in the 200m breaststroke, Mary-Sophie Harvey gave up the 100m butterfly to rest. She will line up for the 200 IM, her main event, on Thursday.
In the men’s 100 butterfly, Joshua Liendo of Ontario lowered his own national record to take gold in 50.36 seconds. The Worlds bronze medalist edged Ilya Kharun, a Montreal native who grew up in Las Vegas, who also qualified for Fukuoka. Note the gold medal of Montrealer Eric Brown in the 800m freestyle and the silver of Loïc Courville-Fortin, of Repentigny, in the 50m backstroke.
“Still in shock”
PHOTO SCOTT GRANT, SUPPLIED BY SWIMMING CANADA
Summer McIntosh
Just under 24 hours after setting a world record in the 400m freestyle, Summer McIntosh remained calm. The 16-year-old swimmer took advantage of her only day off from the Trials to meet the media virtually, a way for Swimming Canada to gradually expose her to all the attention she will receive in the next year and a half.
“I certainly did not expect that, admitted the Torontonian at the end of the afternoon on Wednesday. I don’t really focus on the records, but honestly, it’s basically every athlete’s dream to get a world record and achieve something like that. So when it happened…I think I’m still in shock. It was just such an incredible moment to share with all the Canadians in the stands and some of my family and friends. »
“It was certainly not the easiest to fall asleep, but I ended up getting there,” added the one who lives at the family residence for the competition. “But that’s another thing that I really tried to improve, just to put my brain on neutral and be able to fully recover between my most important races. »
McIntosh will line up Thursday in the 200 m individual medley, where she claims the best registration time ahead of Quebecer Mary-Sophie Harvey.
Simon Drouin, The Press