LONDON — Canada’s Aurelie Rivard was taken off on a stretcher after her silver medal performance in the women’s S10 400-metre freestyle on Wednesday night.
She was later judged to be “fine” by the national team’s leader.
The 23-year-old had placed second with a time of 4:30.42, only 0.77 seconds behind the gold medal winner Oliwia Jablonska of Poland.
After matching the Canadian stroke for stroke through seven lengths of the 50-metre pool, Jablonska narrowly edged the Canadian in the final stretch of the race to establish a course record at the London Aquatics Centre.
Rivard experienced a medical issue following the race and was consequently absent from the medal ceremony. She remained at the London Aquatics Centre for further evaluation but appeared to be “fine,” according to Canadian Team Leader Wayne Lomas.
“The doctor will let us know (about her status moving forward),” said Lomas following the race. “In terms of where the rest of the meet goes, it will be a medical decision.”
She has two individual events remaining on the World Para Swimming Championships schedule; the S10 100-meter freestyle and S10 100-metre backstroke. Her spot on the 400-metre medley relay team is also in question.
Rivard’s medical clearance will determine her availability.
“Aurelie Rivard winning a silver medal in a World Championship final is a positive,” said Lomas. “I think it’s really important, also, to focus on what Aurelie gave to the tenacity to win. She gave everything she had.”
NOTE: This story has been updated overnight.