It took all of 26 seconds for Samantha Corea to win her first national gold medal in the 50-metre butterfly on Wednesday at the Canadian Swim Trials in Toronto.
The Vancouver, B.C., native came out flying in the finals, posting a time of 26.29 seconds.
Corea exited the pool with a big smile on her face.
“I’m so excited, all my hard work has finally paid off and now I’m just happy,” said the 22-year-old sprinter. “I started club swimming when I was 10, so this is a big deal for me.”
Although the aquatic sprinter was victorious tonight, her mind is already focused on the 100 metre fly on Friday. She has already won a gold medal in that event at this year’s NCAA Conference Championships.
A similar result in Friday’s race will vault her into the Pan-American Games this summer with the prospect of the 2016 Olympic Games becoming increasingly important.
“I’m going to try,” said the sprinter. “I’m going back home, I go to school at the University of Denver, and I’m going to train and hopefully make the Olympic team.”
Corea was able to out duel a provincial rival on Wednesday night, both in the final and in the preliminary race.
Noemie Thomas and Paige Kramer joined the Denver Pioneer on the podium, posting times of 26.32 and 26.92 respectively.
“I looked at the results after and I thought I don’t think you can do anymore but reach for life at the end of the wall,” said Thomas, after a very close race.
Thomas, who represented Canada at the 2013 FINA World Championships, knows the importance of a flawless performance.
“I think it’s all of it in the 50 you have to perfect every part of the race, the start, the middle and the end, keep everything consistent,” said the Richmond, B.C. native.