Mary Jibb made a significant impact for Canada at the Para swimming world championships by securing the team’s first gold medal in Singapore. During the women’s 200-meter individual medley SM9 final, Jibb broke both her Canadian and Americas records, finishing in a remarkable time of 2 minutes and 32.90 seconds. This achievement surpassed the previous record set by Stephanie Dixon during the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.
Her outstanding performance in the competition indicated that Jibb’s time of 2:32.90 would have also clinched the gold medal at the previous Paralympics in Paris. Expressing her excitement, Jibb mentioned that standing on the world podium was beyond her wildest dreams just a year ago. Despite starting fourth in the final, she swiftly moved up to second place during the backstroke and retained her position through the breaststroke, ultimately claiming victory in the race.
In an interview at the OCBC Aquatic Centre within the Singapore Sports Hub, Jibb shared her feelings of disbelief and gratitude for her success. She emphasized the hard work put into improving her breaststroke technique and credited her strong finish in the freestyle leg for securing the gold medal. Jibb acknowledged the absence of competitors in the final stretch, which gave her the confidence to push for the win.
Mary Jibb’s dominant performance in the women’s 200m IM SM9 final earned her the gold medal, finishing ahead of Anastasiya Dmytriv of Spain and Zsófia Konkoly of Hungary. Her coach, Jy Lawrence, commended Jibb’s dedication and execution during the race, highlighting her trust in the training process.
Having qualified for her first Paralympics in 2024, Jibb showcased her talent on the international stage, participating in multiple events and setting her sights on future competitions. Her journey from Bracebridge, Ontario, to Surrey, British Columbia, for intensive training with the Pacific Sea Wolves has been instrumental in her success. Looking ahead, Jibb aims to continue her swimming career and strive for further accomplishments at upcoming Paralympic Games.
In addition to Jibb’s victory, other Canadian athletes also delivered commendable performances at the Para swimming world championships, demonstrating the country’s strength in the competition. Notable results included Katie Cosgriffe’s personal best in the women’s 200m IM SM10 and Reid Maxwell breaking the Canadian record in the men’s 100 backstroke S8. The mixed 4×50 freestyle relay team, comprising Jordan Tucker, Sebastian Massabie, Reid Maxwell, and Aly Van Wick-Smart, secured a commendable 5th place finish.
