(Montreal) Officially qualified for the Paris Paralympic Games, para-swimmer Aurélie Rivard (S10) demonstrated that she will still be one to watch this summer in the City of Lights. The Quebecer began the World Series in Berlin by capturing the gold medal in the 200m freestyle on Thursday.
In great form, Rivard made a comeback in the second half of the final to cruise to victory. She recorded a time of 2 min 9.31 s which allowed her to amass 914 points, in this competition format where athletes from different classifications compete, and where the score is adjusted according to their handicap.
The one who is preparing for her fourth Paralympic Games was the first to cover the 200 meters in this final. The silver medal went to Dutchwoman Liesette Bruinsma (S11, 870 points), while Japanese Aira Kinoshita (S14) received bronze with 834 points.
The athlete from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu got closer to her own world record of 2 min 8.64 s, which she established at the same location in 2018.
“Hoping this is a warm-up for the 400m in Paris! I’m really happy with my race, it’s probably the best I’ve had since my world record obtained here in Berlin,” mentioned Aurélie Rivard after the race, speaking to the organizing committee.
Sabrina Duchesne (S7) also took part in this final and placed eighth. The swimmer qualified for Paris, the third Games of her career, obtained a time of 2 min 37.68 sec on Thursday, good for 782 points.
Duchesne will swim the 100m freestyle and 400m freestyle over the next few days. For her part, Aurélie Rivard will return to action in the 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle, two events in which she is the reigning S10 world champion.
Tess Routliffe bronze medalist
Gold medalist in the 100m breaststroke at the Aberdeen World Series last February, Tess Routliffe (SB7) climbed onto the third step of the podium this time.
The Canadian posted a time of 1 min 31.20 s which earned her 917 points, ten less than the gold medalist and three less than the silver medalist.
Brazilian Maria Carolina Gomes Santiago (SB12) set an Americas record by covering the distance in 1 min 14.55 s. The Tokyo Games Paralympic champion accumulated 927 points to win the gold medal. She was followed by Briton and SB6 Paralympic champion Maisie Summers-Newton who earned 920 points.
The 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke are on Tess Routliffe’s schedule this weekend in Berlin.
Other results
- Arianna Hunsicker (S10): 6e of the B final of the 200 m freestyle
- Clémence Paré (S5): 34e 200m freestyle
- Alexander Elliot (S10): 8e 100m butterfly
- Félix Cowan (S9): 38e 100m butterfly
- James Leroux (SB9): disqualified in the 100m breaststroke
- Abi Tripp (SB7): 5e of the B final of the 100 m breaststroke
- Lysandre Lepage (SB7): 56e 100m breaststroke