Katarina Roxon grabs two medals to close out the world para-swims

Two medals on Sunday give Canada 14 total as time in London ends

Katarina Roxon looks up to her time of 121.96 in the 100m breaststroke SB8. Roxon set a new Americas record with her time (Pete Borkowski Photo) 

London — Katarina Roxon came into the final day of the World Para Swim Championships with no medals.

She now leaves London with two.

Roxon went two-for-two Sunday at the London Aquatics Centre, first winning silver in the 100-metre breaststroke SB8 and later helping Canada to a bronze medal in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay, the final event of the meet.

The 26-year-old couldn’t contain her excitement on the final day.

“I think I’ve been waiting all week for this,” said Roxon, who set an Americas record with a time of 1:21.96 in her silver medal performance. “My roommate said she felt like I was kind of on a vacation so ending the meet off like this was amazing.”

Prior to her eventful day, the Rio 2016 Paralympic gold medalist in the 100-metre breaststroke SB8 was in need of some rest.

“I had the worst possible sleep I could last night,” said Roxon, who secured her place in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics with the second-place finish earlier in the night. “I needed to get a nap in and I did for a solid two hours.”

“I just tried to have fun with it [tonight].”

As Roxon’s spot in Tokyo is locked in, the next generation of Canadian swimmers is fresh on her mind.

“We have so many great swimmers coming up and we’re not done yet,” said the Kippens, NL., native. “Tokyo is coming and I think everyone is pushing for medals and the next crop of swimmers want that.”

One of the rising stars for Canada’s program is Abi Tripp. The 18-year-old captured her first world championship medal in the 400m freestyle relay event.

Canada’s relay team had never raced together prior to London, but their chemistry inside and outside the pool was on full display.

After the bronze medal was claimed, Tess Routliffe, who had been called a “leader on the team” by coach Mike Thompson earlier in the week, was quick to acknowledge the feat for Tripp.

“We put it all out there,” said Routliffe, who won three medals during her time at the London Aquatics Centre. “To get Abi her first world championship medal is incredible.”

The 20-year-old swam an event in every stroke over the course of seven days, an inspired performances that did not go unnoticed by her teammates.

“It’s exciting watching Tess complete on that last 100 metres,” said Tripp. “With everyone cheering loud I think we did an incredible job.

“I’m so happy to be a part of it.”

https://twitter.com/tstewartsports/status/1173339631775080450

Overall Canada finished with 14 medals (two gold, seven silver, and five bronze) and had 10 national records set across the Atlantic, although podium finishes is not the main priority for the national team.

“The minute we focus on medals, we lose sight of the outcome and the process,” said Wayne Lomas, Canada’s national team leader. “Of course it’s great but it’s never been on our radar.

“The secret to our growth will be a great commitment to our process to set personal best times.”

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Posted: Sep 15 2019 3:23 pm
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Filed under: Parasports Sports Swimming
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