Canada’s first medal at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships was claimed by two-time Paralympic champion Danielle Dorris, who secured silver in the women’s 50-meter butterfly S5-7 final in Walnut, California. The Moncton, N.B. native led from start to finish, clocking in at 34.42 seconds, just shy of her world record of 32.99 seconds in the S7 category.
Despite Dorris touching the wall first, Katie Kubiak of the United States was awarded the gold medal with 1,060 points compared to Dorris’s 941. Kubiak set a new world record of 37.21 seconds in the S5 class during the morning preliminaries. Mallory Weggemann, another American, secured the bronze with 926 points in the final race.
The winners at the Para Pan Pacs are determined using a points system that considers athletes’ times relative to the designated world record for their respective categories. Dorris, who was born with bilateral radial dysplasia, expressed her joy at winning Canada’s first medal at the event and highlighted the significance of her accomplishment despite not achieving her desired time.
In addition to her individual success, Dorris also contributed to a Canadian record in the mixed 4×100 medley 34-point relay, earning a bronze alongside Fernando Lu, Katie Cosgriffe, and Reid Maxwell with a time of 4:40.11. The team broke the previous national mark set in 2023.
Sebastian Massabie, from Toronto, clinched bronze in the men’s 50 fly S5-7 final with 837 points, following Eigo Tanaka of Japan and Samuel de Oliveira of Brazil. Massabie, who has cerebral palsy affecting his left side, holds Canadian and world records from the 2024 Paralympic swimming trials.
Nicholas Bennett secured a silver medal in the men’s 200 freestyle S2-5, finishing behind Gabriel Bandeira of Brazil. Bennett, who won gold at the 2024 Paralympics in the 100 breaststroke SB14 and 200 individual medley SM14, is known for his exceptional performance and achievements despite being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at a young age.
Ken Stroud, a Richmond, B.C. resident, finished second in the men’s 100 free S4-6, S8, S10, S12, behind Akito Minai of Japan. Stroud, along with 19 teammates, earned his place on the Canadian national team after excelling at the trials in July.
The Para Pan Pacific Swimming Championships mark a significant milestone in the journey towards the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles. The event aims to provide valuable experience for athletes under similar warm conditions, preparing them for future competitions.
