Masse’s Bronze Gives Canada All-Time Medal Record At World Championships

2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Olympic medalist Kylie Masse won bronze on day seven of the 2019 World Championships in the 200 back, bringing Canada to a record medal count.

The Canadian contingent have won seven medals with one day of competition remaining, eclipsing their previous record of six set in 1978.

Masse, who successfully defended her title in the 100 back on day three, wins her fourth career LC Worlds medal to tie Penny Oleksiak as the most decorated Canadian female in history. She also ties Sydney Pickrem for most individual medals won by a Canadian female with her third.

Kylie Masse – bronze medalist in women’s 200 back. Courtesy: Joseph Kleindl

The 23-year-old Masse finished in a time of 2:06.62 in the final, trailing American Regan Smith (2:03.69) and Australian Kaylee McKeown (2:06.26). Smith set a new world record in the semi-finals in a time of 2:03.35.

“I can’t complain,’’ said Masse. ‘’The time is not as fast as I’ve been but I’m really happy to be on the podium. I’m super happy for Regan and I think it will only push the backstroke field even faster. It definitely motivates me to get back to work and keep improving.’’

The University of Toronto product has been 2:05.9 on three separate occasions in her career, with the 2:05.94 she went at the Canadian Trials in April being her fastest.

Pickrem will have a chance to surpass Masse with a fourth individual medal on the final day in the 400 IM, while Masse will look for a fifth career podium finish in the women’s 400 medley relay.

Quotes courtesy of Swimming Canada.

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mike
4 years ago

Why does HPC Ontario, British coach get so much credit for Canada’s swim program? He presently has 6 swimmers, recently Ruck has decided to come back for the Olympic year. All his swimmers especially 2 of his male swimmers did poorly, the breast stroke girl did poorly, granted she may have been sick. And the best individual performance by Penny was 6th. Meanwhile you have a medley
relay team that is made up of 3 swimmers that he has never coached wins the bronze medal and this coach gets credit for that?

P.s. Penny has not even been coached by this guy for very long. I know the guy that coached her for 4 years in her early years… Read more »

Swimming onlooker
4 years ago

Look at that, Canada can still survive and thrive without individual medals from Ruck and Oleksiak…………

Coach
4 years ago

Lots of great swims from the Canadians!

Mswim
4 years ago

Put Pickrem on the medley relay! Let’s see them challenge the Aussies

Ben
Reply to  Mswim
4 years ago

Pickrem on breaststroke might be their best chance, except she also has the 400im that night. That might tire her out.

William Charles Alexander
Reply to  Mswim
4 years ago

I was voting for Pickrem too, as she claimed a bronze in the 200m Breast and has been looking good in Gwangju. However, seeing she will likely have the grueling 400im final tmrw night, right before the relay… i think she’ll be competely knackered, so i reckon Kelsey Wog would prob get the swim.

Swimming onlooker
Reply to  William Charles Alexander
4 years ago

Really impressed with Wog this meet

Bill
Reply to  Mswim
4 years ago

No way, go with Kierra Smith. She’s got a 1:05.9 in her and a Canadian gold medal to go with it.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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