Canadian swimmer Valerie Daigneault gave her word to take a trip south of the border in order to represent the University of Pittsburgh in the pool come September.
Hailing from Montreal, Que. Daigneault trains with the Pointe Claire Swim Club, one of the top programs in the Montreal area.
A backstroke specialist, Daigneault already qualified for the Canadian Olympic Trials, and competed successfully at the 2015 Canadian Team Trials this past April.
At trials Daigneault managed to secure a 29th place finish in the prelims of the 100m backstroke, and placed 30th in both the 200m backstroke and 200m IM.
Her best race was the 100 where she swam a 1:04.79 in the long course pool, falling just shy of her 1:04.52 personal best time that she swam at the 2015 Eastern Canadian Championships.
That 1:04.52 swim still stands as her personal best today in the long course pool. At Easterns she swam a best time in the 200m backstroke as well sporting a 2:17.36.
Daigneault almost matched that time later in the season, sporting a fifth place finish in the 200m backstroke with a 2:17.88 at the Canadian Age Group Championships.
With Canada competing in both long course meters and short course meters, Daigneault has never competed in a short course yards setting, however she’s excited to try out the American college experience.
“I felt like I was a part of the team as soon as I met them. The team and coaching staff is absolutely amazing. I cant wait to join the team and become a Pitt Panther,” Daigneault stated.
Daigneault’s best times
- 100 backstroke – 1:04.52 LC (57.04 SCY Conversion)
- 200 backstroke – 2:17.36 LC (2:01.58 SCY Conversion)
Great achievement by a great person! Valerie is one of a kind person, who will do great things a PITT! GO panthers!!
Valeries family lived in Connecticut for many years and she competed extensively in short yards meets. They moved just after she finished 8th grade. Her times from before her move are here
http://fast.ctswim.org/CTNet/BestTimes.aspx?id=86489d80-e791-444a-a151-78a698c1c305