TORONTO _ Like hungry sharks Canadian swimmers feasted on medals in the pool on Saturday’s opening day of the Toronto Parapan American Games.
Led by a one-two finish in men’s S12-13 200-meter individual medley Canadians gobbled up seven medals (one gold, four silver, two bronze) on the opening night of swimming. The team’s goal is between 80 and 85 medals.
Nicolas Turbide, of Quebec City, collected Canada’s first gold of the meet, winning the 200-IM for the visually impaired in two minutes, 19.99 seconds. Devin Gotell, of Montreal, was second in 2:26.62.
“I got what I wanted,” said Turbide. “It feels awesome.”
A loud, flag-waving crowd had him riding a wave of energy.
“The crowd is a huge a part of this,” he said. “I don’t know if I would have had the same adrenaline push for the race.”
Tyler Mrak, of Aldergrove, B.C., was fourth in 2:29.39.
Two Canadians also reached the podium in the men’s S14 200-m I.M.
Maxime Rousselle, of St-Alexandre, Que., was second in the race for the intellectually impaired in 2:04.91. Gordie Michie, of St. Thomas, Ont., took bronze in 2:05.40.
Dalton Boon, of Ladner, B.C., was fourth in 2:08.52.
Tammy Cunnington, of Red Deer, Alta., won Canada’s first swimming medal of the Games in the second race of the night. She pumped her fist after taking bronze in the S4 100-m freestyle in a personal best time of 2:00.7.
“I was a little anxious because I had never done a big final like this,” said the 39-year-old who was left a paraplegic following an accident at an airshow when she was six years old. “I stuck to the game plan and hit the acceleration at the right time.”
Cunnington just missed the podium in the 50-m freestyle, finishing fourth in 58.41 seconds.
Camille Berube, of Gatineau, Que., won silver in the S8 100-m backstroke in 1:26.96.
“It means a lot,” said Berube, who has an impairment in both legs after being diagnosed with cancer when she was born. “I expected the time to be a little faster. I had some issues at the end.
“The crowd is amazing, my family is here, my friends are here to support me. I couldn’t be happier.”
Sabrina Duchesne, of Quebec City, was seventh in 1:30.01.
Kirstie Kasko, of Okotoks, Alta., was second in the S14 200-m freestyle in 2:25.13.
“That was awesome,” said Kasko. “I wanted gold. Maybe next time.”
Justine Morrier, of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., was fourth in 2:29.34.
The competition has attracted 228 athletes from 19 countries to the Parapan Am Aquatic Centre and Field House. For full results go to http://results.toronto2015.org/PRS/en/swimming/schedule-and-results.htm.
In other races:
_ Riley McLean, of Vernon, B.C., was fourth in the S4 100-m freestyle in 2:07.43 and fifth in the 50-m freestyle in 58.66 seconds
_ Christian Daniel, of Calgary, was sixth in the S6 400-m freestyle in 6:00.35
_ Jean-Michel Lavalliere, of Montreal, was fifth in the S7 400-m freestyle in 5:24.33 while Vancouver’s Scott Patterson was eighth in 6:39.09.
_ Chris Sergeant-Tsonos, of Kingston, Ont., was fifth in S8 100-m backstroke in 1:19.63
_ Danial Murphy of Bedford, N.S., was fifth in the S5 100-m freestyle in 1:27.70 while Andrew Cooke of Penticton, B.C., was sixth in 1:31.27.
_ Valerie Drapeau, of Longueuil, Que., was seventh in the S5 100-m freestyle in 2:09.87.
Swimming news courtesy of Swimming Canada.