Team BC swimmers make a big splash at the 2017 Canada Games
It was an evening of podium finishes for Team BC swimmers at the Pan Am Pool in Winnipeg on Tuesday with two gold, two silver and six bronze medals.
Penticton’s Tyler Wall is now a triple medallist at the 2017 Canada Games by adding two more medals to the gold he won with his teammates in a relay on Monday. He took gold in the 100M freestyle and then won bronze in the men’s 4x50M freestyle relay Tuesday evening with Thomas Kranjic (Delta), Joshua Kim (Langley) and Scott Pfeifer (Surrey). “I’m even happier that I was a few minutes ago,” said Wall after winning his third medal at the Games. “It’s pretty exciting.”
It was a successful evening for Victoria’s Jessica Luo as she added two more medals to the relay gold she won on Monday. She tied for bronze in the 400M IM and then took silver in the women’s 4x50M freestyle relay with Alexandra Turvey (Vancouver), Acacia Benn (Penticton) and Amanda McCallum (Richmond). “I am speechless, honestly,” said Luo after receiving her third medal of the Games. “But now I do have gold, silver and bronze, I’ve got the whole set.”
Jesse Shade (Campbell River) won two gold medals within one hour — 50M breaststroke and and 100M freestyle Special Olympics.”It’s crazy. I wouldn’t think that in this big meet with all of Canada that I would get two gold medals. I wouldn’t have thought that in the world.” He added the atmosphere kept him going for his second race. “You get tired after the [first] race, but then you get pumped up because there’s so much energy and enjoyment here.”
“I’m really happy not just with the results we’re getting, but far more so with the energy and the enthusiasm that the kids are showing,” said Team BC swim coach Mike Flegel. “Overall, we are really pleased with how the kids are approaching the races and the maturity they’re showing how they manage themselves during these long days. Everyone’s together on the team.”
Team BC Results – Swimming Tuesday, August 8
GOLD: 100M Freestyle – Tyler Wall (Penticton)
GOLD: 400M IM – Bailey Herbert (Victoria)
GOLD: 50M Breaststroke Special Olympics – Jesse Shade (Campbell River)
GOLD: 100M Freestyle Special Olympics – Jesse Shade (Campbell River)
SILVER: 100M Freestyle Special Olympics – Genevieve Verge (Sechelt)
SILVER: 4x50M Freestyle Relay (Turvey, Benn, McCallum, Luo)
BRONZE: 50M Breaststroke – Michael Schmidt (Victoria)
BRONZE: 200M Butterfly – Sophie Lorette (Victoria)
BRONZE: 400M IM – Jessica Luo (Victoria)
BRONZE: 100M Freestyle Special Olympics – Mikyla Carlow (Youbou)
BRONZE: 100M Para Freestyle – Arianna Hunsicker (Surrey)
BRONZE: 4x50M Freestyle Relay – Wall, Kranjc, Kim, Pfeifer
Team BC Quotes
HERBERT, Bailey (Victoria) 400M IM – gold
“It’s incredible. I’ve been waiting for this race since I knew I was going to be on the Canada Games team. I’ve been looking forward to it to compete with the best in the country. It’s been an amazing experience. I am happy I got to be a part of it.
Women’s 4x50M freestyle relay – silver
TURVEY, Alexandra (Vancouver)
“It’s splash and dash, you don’t know what’s going to happen. You just try to get your hand to the wall first.”
BENN, Acacia (Penticton)
“It was fantastic. I’ve never gone that fast in my life. It just felt great. I just wanted to go for it.”
Men’s 4x50M freestyle relay – Bronze
KIM, Joshua (Langley)
“It’s really important that the team works together to achieve our goals. Everyone here today had events before, so everyone was tired. It was a long day, but everyone pulled through.”
PFEIFER, Scott (Surrey)
“I had to bring it home and get my hand on the wall. I knew that I was going to have to try to bring it back pretty fast to get a spot on the podium. My time wasn’t ideal, but I got my hand on the wall.”
VERGE, Genevieve (Sechelt) 100M freestyle Special Olympics silver
“I am really proud and I also really enjoyed my experience swimming with my teammate. It made it more memorable for me.”
CARLOW, Mikyla (Youbou) 100M freestyle Special Olympics bronze
“It’s so amazing. It was a really hard race, but it was so much fun and a good experienc. I definitely loved it. I want to thank all of the supporters here.”
HUNSICKER, Ariana(Surrey) Para 100M freestyle – bronze
“I thought for sure, I was going to get fourth. I went my best time. I wasn’t expecting it at all. And then I saw the BC flag and thought, oh man, I must have gotten it again. Bronze again. It’s exciting. I came to here expecging nothing and so far I have two medals. I hope to get more.”
SCHMIDT, Michael (Victoria) 50M breaststroke – bronze
“I am super happy with the time. I came in wanting a medal, and I happy I got one.
LORETTE, Sophie (Victoria) 200M butterfly – bronze
“It was really special, I was super excited with the outcome of the race. It’s super special and a great privilege to be able to come here and then get a medal. It’s really exciting.”