OTTAWA – Paralympic Games champions Nicholas Bennett and Aurélie Rivard were named Swimming Canada’s Para Athletes of the Year as the organization unveiled its awards over the past couple of weeks.
At the 2024 Paralympic Games, Bennett took gold in the S14 100-m breaststroke and 200 individual medley and silver in the 200 freestyle. It’s the second straight year he’s won the Male Swimmer of the Year – Paralympic Program.
His time of 2:06.05 in the 200 IM was a Paralympic record, while his 1:53.61 in the 200 free lowered his own Canadian standard. He set the world record in the 200 IM in May at the Team Trials in Toronto clocking 2:05.97.
The only Canadian Para swimmer to win two gold medals in Paris, Bennett was named one of Canada’s flag bearers for the Closing Ceremony,
He also became the first Canadian male swimmer to win a Paralympic title since 2012, the first to capture multiple gold medals at a single Games since 2004, and the first to reach the podium three times since 2012.
“You always dream about those kinds of moments, but you never really expect them to come,” said Bennett, 21, from Parksville, B.C.
“Every time I look in the mirror, I just see myself. It’s kind of weird sometimes to think that those monumental accomplishments happened. I still have a hard time believing it.”
Rivard wins seventh Female Swimmer of the Year – Paralympic Program
Rivard, 28, took gold in the 400-m free, silver in the 100 free and bronze in the 50 free, to increase her Games medal total to 13 podiums (6-4-3). She wins the Female Swimmer of the Year – Paralympic Program for the seventh time.
Thanks to that freestyle hat-trick, Rivard became the first Canadian female swimmer to medal at four Paralympic Games.
She also became the first Canadian Para swimmer – male or female – to win gold at three consecutive Games since Stephanie Dixon did so in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
“Rocky and rewarding are words that come mind,” said Rivard, when asked how she would describe her 2024 campaign. “It was a perilous year with several personal challenges. I worked a lot on myself to be able to show up in Paris. All this work will benefit me for the rest of my life.
“I also wanted to enjoy my Games to the fullest, without getting lost in the emotions of my performances. And I think I succeeded.”
Massabie named Breakout Swimmer of the Year – Paralympic Program
Sebastian Massabie of Surrey, B.C. received the Breakout Swimmer of the Year – Paralympic Program. After setting Canadian records and reaching the final in his first two individual events in Paris, Massabie captured gold in the S4 50 free in world record time for the gold.
In doing so, he became the first Canadian swimmer in history – male or female – to win a Paralympic title in the S4 class. “I feel very proud and grateful to receive this honour,” Massabie said of the award. “I just trust the programming and do what coach Jy (Lawrence) tells me. Training hard and good communication are essential.” This past weekend, Massabie broke his world record in the S4 50 butterfly at the Ken Demchuk International Invitational in Markham, Ont.
Source: https://paralympic.ca/news/