TORONTO _ Like a good appetizer before the main course Nathan Stein and Alec Elliot got the taste buds tingling with a pair of medals during Monday’s morning swimming at the 2015 Toronto Parapan American Games.
Stein, of Maple Ridge, B.C., won silver in the S10 100-meter butterfly in 58.52 seconds. Elliot, of Kitchener, Ont., was third in 58.86. That set the table for the evening session where Canadian swimmers are expected to heap more medals on the country’s plate.
Heading into Monday night Canada has won 26 swimming medals (six gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze).
Brazil’s Andre Brasil, the world record holder in the 100-m fly event, won the race in a Parapan Am record time of 56.72.
“I was really trying to reel him in at the 75-meter mark,” said Stein, who has a condition called osteochodritis discans which has resulted in him having 11 surgeries on his leg. “I started to seize up.
“The silver is always good, especially on home soil. It was not quite the time I wanted but it was still a good race.”
The medal was Elliot’s second bronze of the meet, going with his third in the 100-m breaststroke.
“It was a good race,” he said. “It was a little bit off my best time.
“It was good for a morning final.”
Stein will be back in the water Monday night looking for a podium finish in the 50-meter freestyle.
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.
Aurelie Rivard of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., Samantha Ryan, of Saskatoon, and Katarina Roxon of Kippens, NL, will all swim in two finals Monday night.
Rivard clocked a Parapan Am record time of 28.17 seconds to be the fastest in qualifying for the S10 50-m freestyle. Ryan was eighth in a personal best time of 32.06.
Ryan swam a Parapan Am record time of one minute, 11.30 seconds to be the fastest qualifier in the S10 100-m butterfly. Rivard was second in a personal best 1:11.50 while Roxon had the seventh-best time of 1:17.98.
Morgan Bird, of Calgary, who won two gold medals Sunday night, was ninth in 1:20.73.
Rivard is ready for a busy night.
“I have done it before (two finals) but not a lot,” said the 19-year-old, who was born without a left hand. “They are going to be three hours apart so it’s not that bad.
“I’m going to have prepare. It’s achievable. I am going to go in and swim fast.”
Ryan is happy the 100 fly is first.
“That’s my main event,” she said. “I can focus on that. It’s a good order.”
Roxon also qualified for the S9 50-m freestyle final in 31.70 seconds.
Tammy Cunnington, of Red Deer, Alta., swam a Canadian record time of 57.84 seconds to qualify third in the S4 50-m butterfly.
“I think I can still get faster,” said Cunnington.
Valerie Drapeau, of Longueuil, Que., was 10th in 1:21.50.
Jean-Michel Lavalliere, of Montreal, was clocked in 31.52 to be second in qualifying for the S7 50-m freestyle. Nathan Clement, of West Vancouver, was fifth in 33.22 seconds.
“I was pleased but my start could have been a bit better,” said Lavalliere, who has cerebral palsy. “I know I will have more in the tank for tonight.”
Danial Murphy, of Bedford, N.S., (50.34 seconds) and Andrew Cooke, of Penticton, B.C., (58.20 PB) qualified for the S5 50-m freestyle final.
Swimming news courtesy of Swimming Canada.