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Canada's Aurelie Rivard wins gold at world para swimming championships

MADEIRA, Portugal — Canada's Aurelie Rivard won her second title of the world para swimming championships on Friday, finishing first in the women's 100-metre freestyle S10 race at the Penteada Olympic Swimming Complex.
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Canada's Aurelie Rivard swims her way to a silver medal for the women's SM10(Para) 200m Individual Medley during the swimming finals at the Commonwealth Games Saturday, April 7, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

MADEIRA, Portugal — Canada's Aurelie Rivard won her second title of the world para swimming championships on Friday, finishing first in the women's 100-metre freestyle S10 race at the Penteada Olympic Swimming Complex.

Rivard, from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., took top spot in 59.43 seconds. Hungary's Bianka Pap was second in 1:01.19 and Lisa Kruger of the Netherlands was third in 1:01.25. 

“I'm a little surprised with my time due to my last 72 hours," said Rivard, who didn't finish the 400 free final on Tuesday due to a medical concern. "Over the past three days, I've been really trying to take the pressure off the results, just trying to have as much fun in the process as possible."

The Canadian won gold in the 50 free on the opening night of competition. Rivard, 26, owns 16 world championship medals (6-6-4) over her career. 

In the women’s 200 free S5, Jessica Tinney of Toronto finished fifth. Camille Berube of Gatineau, Que., was fifth in the women's 100 breast SB6 and Danielle Kisser of Delta, B.C., was seventh. 

The Canadian team of Tyson MacDonald of Tillsonburg, Ont., Nicholas Bennett of Parksville, B.C, Angela Marina of Cambridge, Ont., and Justine Morrier of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., finished  fifth in the mixed 4x100 medley relay S14.

In the men’s 200 individual medley SM8, Felix Cowan of Brossard, Que., was sixth and Zach Zona of Simcoe, Ont., was seventh. Philippe Vachon of Blainville, Que., was disqualified.

In the men’s 100 backstroke S11, Matthew Cabraja of Brampton, Ont., was sixth. Myriam Soliman of Saint-Hubert, Que., finished seventh in the women's 50 freestyle S7 and Alec Elliot of Kitchener, Ont., was sixth in the men's 100 free S10.

Competition continues Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2022. 

The Canadian Press