Dominique Bouchard

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"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game."

Dominique Bouchard
Dominique Bouchard is a Canadian Pan Pacific Championships and Commonwealth Games competitor. In addition to her international success Bouchard was a standout swimmer at the University of Missouri, where she was a four time NCAA All-American studying biology and psychology with plans to become a medical doctor. Born May 29, 1991 Bouchard is a native of St. Albert, Canada.

Early career
Prior to joining the University of Missouri, Bouchard was a finalist at the 2008 Canadian Olympic Trials, and competed for Canada’s Senior National Team in 2009. She travelled to meets including the 2008 Charlotte Grand Prix, where she finaled, in addition to the 2007 Paul Bergan Invitational where she picked up a bronze medal.

University of Missouri
2009-2010
At her first year at Missouri Bouchard made an immediate impact, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke events. She didn’t advance to the finals, but her season best was a new school record in the 200-yard back, and came within the school’s top three in the 200-yard IM.

2010-2011
As a sophomore Bouchard claimed the Big 12 title in the 200-yard back, and advanced to the NCAA Championships two years in a row. At NCAAs, Bouchard finished 2nd in the 200-yard back, earning her first All-America honors. Her time of 1:51.54 was a new school record and Big 12 Conference Record. She also set a new Missouri Record in the 100-yard back, and was named Big 12 Swimmer of the Week once during the season.

2011-2012
Bouchard returned for her junior year and for the third season in a row qualified for the NCAA Championships after defending her Big 12 title and finishing 3rd in the 100 back. At the NCAA Championships Bouchard picked up a bronze in the 200-yard back, and finished 11th in the 100 back, earning her first All-America honor in that event. She was also a part of the 400 medley relay squad that finished 14th.

2012-2013
Bouchard ended her senior season as the most decorated tiger in history. She nearly broke the 1:50 barrier, finishing 2nd at the 2013 NCAA Championships — her time landed her as the 7th fastest performer all time. Bouchard also finished 7th in the 100-yard back, earning two All-America honors in addition to an Honorable Mention All-America nod in the 400 medley relay.

2014 Pan Pacific Championships
A year after her undergraduate graduation, Bouchard qualified for the Pan Pacific Championship team and was named to the Commonwealth Games roster. At the quadrennial Pan Pacific Championships, Bouchard finished 5th in the 100-meter backstroke and 6th in the 200-meter back.

2015 World Championships 
Bouchard qualified for the 2015 World Championships in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke events. In the 100 back, Bouchard advanced to the semi-finals, and dropped time to finish 12th overall. She had real success in the 200-meter distance though, with a 6th place finish in the event. She was fighting for a bronze medal at the 150 meter mark, but couldn’t hold on the last 50 meters and was passed by Jenny Mensing and Daria Ustinova to finish 6th.

Best Times

Course Event Time Date Meet
lcm 50 Back 28.66 08/05/15 2015 Fina World Championships
Kazan, Russia
lcm 100 Back 59.80 08/09/15 2015 Fina World Championships
Kazan, Russia
lcm 200 Back 2:08.16 08/07/15 2015 Fina World Championships
Kazan, Russia
Dominique Bouchard (photo: Mike Lewis) 2015 Canadian Trials Elizabeth Beisel, Sinead Russell, and Dominique Bouchard celebrate after going 1-2-3 in the 200 backstroke. (Credit: Janna Schulze) Dominique Bouchard, Swimming Canada (Photo Credit: Tim Binning, theswimpictures) Airborne swimmers, courtesy of Domeyko Photography Behind the blocks