Katie Cosgriffe secured Canada’s final medal at the Para swimming world championships in Singapore on Saturday by clinching a silver in the women’s 100-meter backstroke event. This marked her second medal of the competition, following a bronze in the 100-meter butterfly earlier.
Canada’s team wrapped up the seven-day championship with an impressive total of twelve medals, including two golds. Leading the medal charge were Mary Jibb from Muskoka and Danielle Dorris from Moncton, each snagging three medals, with a gold each.
Competing in the S10 classification, Cosgriffe had a redemption moment after finishing fifth in the 100 backstroke at the previous year’s Paralympic Games in Paris. Expressing her determination, she mentioned, “This entire season, the focus has been on this race. I’m just super happy to win my first major international medal in this event.”
Although Cosgriffe narrowly missed out on the gold, she posted her personal best time of 1:07.37, with the victory going to Defne Kurt of Turkey in 1:06.95. Despite falling short of her ultimate goal, Cosgriffe expressed satisfaction, saying, “I just slightly fell short but I gave it my all and I’m just so happy to come out of this with a medal.”
Canada’s coach, Ryan Allen, commended the team’s performance, highlighting the exceptional swimming displayed throughout the championship. The team’s success was particularly notable as newcomers stepped up to fill the shoes of experienced veterans, delivering strong performances and achieving personal bests consistently.
The competition in Singapore brought together 580 swimmers from 75 countries, with Canada’s 19 swimmers making a strong impression at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. This championship marked the first world para swim event held in Asia, showcasing top-tier athleticism and sportsmanship on a global stage.
