Richard Funk wins gold, sets meet record in men’s 50m breaststroke

Jason Block takes silver behind Funk for second straight night

Richard Funk won his second gold medal at the Canadian Swimming Trials Friday in the men's 50 metre breaststroke. Alexis Espejo/Toronto Observer

Richard Funk won his second gold and third medal of the Canadian Swimming Trials in the men’s 50 metre breaststroke at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Friday.

Funk won a silver medal in Wednesday’s 200 metre breaststroke event, falling to James Dergousoff by just .02, and picked up his other gold in the 100 metre breaststroke on Thursday.

The Edmonton native set a personal best and new meet record time of :27.65 on Friday, beating silver medal winner Jason Block for the second time in as many nights.

“No, not til now,”  said Funk, asked whether he was aware that he set the meet record. “That’s awesome.

“Any time you can do a best time, you’re moving in the right direction. It’s a sign that you’re doing the right things and it’s really encouraging.”

He was the sixth swimmer out of the 10 finalists to set a personal best time today.

Three of those six were able to improve on their best times set in the preliminary event, setting new best times in the finals, including Nick Kostiuk, the bronze medalist and childhood rival of Funk.

All three medalists have known each other for many years and Funk is enjoying being able to share these experiences with them.

“The whole podium tonight, Jason (Block), Nick (Kostiuk), and myself, we’re all from Alberta and we grew up racing each other,” said the 2013 University of Michigan All-American.

“Nick and I used to train together every day and it’s the first time we have been on the podium together. It’s fun to see those childhood rivalries blossoming into something special.”

Block once again came up short of a gold medal in a close race.

The University of Calgary Swim Club member won two silver medals, the other coming Thursday in the men’s 100 metre breaststroke where he also qualified for the Pan Am Games.

“A coach told me when I was young, you can happy, but never be satisfied,” said Block

“As soon as you’re satisfied you stop being hungry. I’m happy with the weekend, but there’s work to do for sure.”

Follow Steve Gordon on Twitter: @stevegordon1729

About this article

By: Steve Gordon
Posted: Apr 4 2015 9:08 am
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Filed under: 2015 Pan Am Games 2015 Team Canada Trials Amateur Sports Swimming
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