Team BC shines with eight individual gold medals in the pool
It was another great day in the pool for Team BC on Aug. 15 as swimmers as collectively they brought in nine gold, 10 silver and seven bronze medals for a team total of 26 medals. Several swimmers had outstanding performances and while finals were limited to only two swimmers per province, the strength of BC swimmers was evident.
In the morning session Special Olympics swimmer Jesse Shade won his fifth gold in the 50m breaststroke in a time of 37.04. Soon after, the Team BC men dominated the 800m Freestyle as Andrew Woinoski took gold in 8:16.59 and teammate Ethan Phillips took silver in 8:22.30.
In the afternoon session things got started with the 4x50m freestyle relays. Team BC women Wendy Yang, Jessie Gibson, Meredith Levorson and Mackenzie Padington combined for gold in 1:42.91, while the men’s relay team took home silver.
Molly Gowans put on another great individual performance today winning gold in the 800m freestyle and silver in the 200m freestyle. Colin Gilbert, Tai Long Singh and Josh Zakala also topped the podium today winning gold in the 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 200m IM, respectively.
In para swimming, Aimee Brennan dominated with a gold in the women’s 200m para IM in 3:08.41, while Ian Ralston did the same in the men’s 200m para IM (2:47.67).
That wraps up the indoor pool events in swimming competition; however, a slight change to the open water swim means swimmers will return to MacDonald Island Park one more time. Due to lake temperatures in Gregoire Lake out at Anzac, the 5km men’s and women’s open water swim will now take place at MacDonald Island Park in the pool. The women will begin at 11:30 a.m., while the men will start at 1:00 p.m.
August 15th Swimming Medals
GOLD
Jesse Shade, 50m Breaststroke Special Olympics Men (37.04)
Andrew Woinoski, 800m Freestyle Men (8:16.59)
Wendy Yang, Jessie Gibson, Meredith Levorson, Mackenzie Padington; 4x50m Freestyle Relay Women (1:42.91)
Molly Gowans, 800m Freestyle Women (8:37.90)
Colin Gilbert, 200m Freestyle Men (1:50.56)
Tai Long Singh, 100m Butterfly Men (54:34)
Josh Zakala, 200m Individual Medley Men (2:03.06)
Aimee Brennan, 200m Para Individual Medley Women (3:08.41)
Ian Ralston, 200m Para Individual Medley Men (2:47.67)
SILVER
Ethan Phillips, 800m Freestyle Men (8:22.30)
Josh Zakala, Colin Gilbert, Chris Baker, Tai Long Singh; 4x50m Freestyle Relay Men (1:33.81)
Megan Dalke, 800m Freestyle Women (8:38.00)
Renae Ledoux, 100m Breaststroke Women (1:09.90)
Molly Gowans, 200m Freestyle Women (2:01.19)
Josh Zakala, 200m Freestyle Men (1:50.86)
Aidan McDonough, 100m Para Breastroke Men (1:39.39)
Lucas Tyler, 100m Butterfly Men (55.34)
Mackenzie Padington, 200m Individual Medley Women (2:17.34)
Josh Zakala, Harry Duan, Tai Long Singh, Colin Gilbert; 400m Medley Relay Men (3:46.21)
BRONZE
Hannah Esopenko, 100m Breastroke Women (1:10.69)
Harry Duan, 100m Breastroke Men (1:03.38)
Jessie Gibson, 200m Freestyle Women (2:02.13)
Aimee Brennan, 100m Para Breaststroke Women (1:40.29)
Hannah Esopenko, 200m Individual Medley Women (2:17.70)
Lauren Crisp, Renae Ledoux, Jessie Gibson, Molly Gowans; 400m MedleyRelay Women (4:09.51)
Aidan McDonough, 200m Para Individual Medley Men (3:25.12)