(Montreal) After moments of doubt and uncertainty before the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Sabrina Duchesne wanted to take some time off in the past year to take care of her physical and mental health. We have to admit that the strategy has paid off since the 21-year-old para-athlete is now heading towards the Para-swimming World Championships with renewed pleasure for her discipline.
Posted at 2:12 p.m.
In Madeira, Portugal, Duchesne will take part in the 100m and 400m freestyle events in the S7 category, two events in which she participated in Tokyo last summer, beating her personal bests in the process.
“This is my first international competition since Tokyo. I took a good break after the Games before gradually returning to training. My objectives are simple: I want to lower the marks I had achieved in the trials for the World Championships. We’ll see if the training was effective last year,” explained Duchesne, in an interview with Sportcom.
“My results in Tokyo were excellent because the preparation was excellent too. We had an extra year of training before the Games. I felt like I was just training and my form was really amazing. It will be difficult to do better than my Tokyo times,” she added.
At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Duchesne also won a bronze medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay with teammates Aurélie Rivard, Morgan Bird and Katarina Roxon. In Portugal, Duchesne will be able to concentrate all her energies on the individual races, since she will not participate in any relay race, due to the new rules put in place for the worlds.
“The relay in Tokyo was a surprise for me. I didn’t even have to participate and I ended up winning a medal. At the worlds, all relays will be mixed (women and men) and with the many changes that there have been within the Canadian team, it has been decided that I should only participate in the individual races. »
A young big sister
Sabrina Duchesne is only 21 years old, but she already has a solid track record as evidenced by her two participations in the Paralympic Games (2016 and 2021), her bronze medal at the Parapan American Games in Toronto in 2015 and her participation in two finals at the London World Championships in 2019.
With this wealth of experience, Duchesne is trying to be the best possible ally for the other young members of the Canadian team who, for many, will experience their first major international competition in Madeira.
“It’s special to be considered a veteran on the team because it really wasn’t that long ago that I was still the little baby. I try to be there for the new ones like the older ones were there for me a few years ago. I answer all the questions and I want to put them in confidence,” notes Duchesne.
No less than 31 athletes, including 14 Quebecers, will represent the maple leaf at the World Championships in Portugal from June 12 to 18. Duchesne is very pleased to see so many of his teammates have the chance to experience this competition.
“I am extremely happy that there are so many of us and I don’t think I have ever seen such a large delegation in my career. It’s difficult to talk to everyone, but we never hesitate to encourage each other. The athletes are about the same age as me, so friendships are easily created. »
The importance of Rouge & Or
Duchesne entered Laval University in the fall of 2021. Although she had already been training with the Rouge & Or for many years, her entry into the bachelor’s degree in social work allowed her to participate in university competitions. This opportunity represents a renewal in her swimming career according to the one who will now study criminology from next fall.
“I joined the varsity team in the fall and it helped me a lot, especially since my sister also made her debut at the same time as me. My motivation has been at its maximum all year. I feel that the Rouge & Or is a real family, the training sessions are really pleasant”, she rejoices.
Upon her return from Tokyo, Duchesne was honored by the City of Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures where a small ceremony was organized in her honor.
“It was so fun, it was a beautiful ceremony and I was truly honored. I have always lived in Saint-Augustin and it was the best way to return home. I also have my photo next to the pool also at the Sports Complex, it really makes me laugh! “, she concluded proudly.