Canada’s Penny Oleksiak reacts to her silver medal performance in the women’s 100-metre butterfly at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Sunday, August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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She’ll race the 200-metre freestyle relay Wednesday and the 100 free Thursday, but isn’t anxious about fatigue. Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, won gold in 55.48.
It capped a huge weekend for the Canadian women in the water.
The first medals at any Olympics are always heaped with extra importance, whether that significance is real or imagined. Some athletes believe that one or two can set the tone, soothe jitters, and stave off criticism back home.
It’s Canada’s first medal in the event in 40 years.
Men’s 4×100 freestyle relay – Santo Condorelli, Kenora, Ont.; Yuri Kisil, Calgary; Markus Thormeyer, Tsawwassen, B.C.; and Evan Van Moerkerke, Tillsonburg, Ont., placed fifth in qualifying (3:14.06), and were seventh in the final (3:14.35).
“It’s emotional because you see all the good times and the bad times”, said Wayne.
She said she never expected to win a medal.
“I think there’s a lot more there”.
“I’m rooming with Penny in the village, and she’s just been so awesome with her composure, not letting it get to her head and stay focused”, said Williams.
“I’m really happy with how I’ve done so far”, she said. “I knew it would be close, but at the same time I didn’t know to what extent”.
The two still have a chance for a medal in the individual springboard next week.
In the end, the team of Sandrine Mainville, Chantal van Landeghem, Taylor Ruck and Oleksiak, finished with a time of three minutes 32.89 seconds to win bronze for Canada.
It was only a few lines in length, but the congratulatory note was the passing of a torch from the last generation of medal-winning women to the current roster, which may only just be getting started. “It was a really special feeling”.
It’s also the first medal for the women’s team since 1996.
Shortly before the relay on Saturday, Ms. Oleksiak was subbed in for Ms. Williams, showing how quickly the 16-year-old has risen up the Canadian swimming ladder after arriving on the scene this year. Wayne has texted with her but won’t have a chance to congratulate her in person until Monday.
There being not much demand for a six-foot-two gymnast, Oleksiak made the right call switching to swimming at the age of nine.
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“Having her around the other athletes who are very professional, very mature and nice girls, (they) go around to her house to help her with her homework at school for example”, Titley said.
