Canadian para swimmers made a remarkable splash at the world championships, with Reid Maxwell claiming silver in his debut, while Danielle Dorris and Mary Jibb secured their third medals on Friday. Maxwell set a new Canadian record with a time of 2:26.72 in the men’s S8 200m individual medley, landing him on the podium. Australia’s Callum Simpson clinched gold, and Greece’s Dimosthenis Michalentzakis took bronze.
Maxwell, an 18-year-old from St. Albert, Alta., surprised himself with his podium finish, considering he wasn’t targeting this event. He expressed his disbelief at his achievement, becoming the first Canadian man to win a world championship medal in an S8 event.
Dorris earned a bronze in the women’s S7 50 freestyle, narrowly beating Britain’s Iona Winnifrith with a season-best time of 33.67 seconds. Jibb, on the other hand, posted a personal best in the women’s S9 100 backstroke, securing her fifth top performance in a week. Jibb’s bronze medal added to her impressive debut, making her the youngest Canadian swimmer since 2013 to claim at least three medals at a single world championship.
With Canada’s strong performance, including two gold, two silver, and seven bronze medals, the team is heading into the final day of competition with a total of 11 medals. The para swimming worlds have been a display of talent and determination for the Canadian contingent, highlighting their success and dedication in the sport.
