The crowds are back, the excitement is back, and so is Tess Routliffe.
The Canadian swimmer hit the pool in a Paralympics final for the first time since 2016, on Saturday, and brought back a silver medal in the women’s 200m individual medley (SM7).
It was an emotional time for the 25-year-old, who missed the Games in 2021 due to a back injury. She had been expected to at least equal her Rio silver.
“I’m ecstatic to be back here and doing what I love again,” said Routliffe, after the race. “It’s more about maxing out my potential. Unfortunatley, tonight I wasn’t able to fully max out what I think I’m capable of.”
Routliffe is best known for her breaststroke, where she can catch the pack after a slower start with backstroke and butterfly, sitting fifth after the first 100 metres. Her strong closing speed in the breaststroke and freestyle allowed her to make up three places.
She finished with a time of 2:57:17, with Mallory Weggemann of the United States taking home gold in a Paralympic record and fellow American Julia Gaffney in third.
She was not the only Canuck in the medal race, as two lanes over was Danielle Dorris (Fredericton, N.B.), but her race was the opposite of Routliffe’s.
Dorris had a strong race start and would be one spot back of Routliffe going into the final 50 metres, but she lacked the closing speed to remain in podium position. The 21-year-old was sixth with a time of 3:04:51, after posting the third-best qualifying time.
“I was just happy with it going as well as it did, and (my) not imploding,” said Dorris, to
Swim Canada. “Everyone came to play tonight and did their jobs. I did my job, but it wasn’t a good enough job, but I can’t complain about that.”
Routliffe and Dorris will look to make it a double podium next Saturday in the women’s 50m breaststroke (S7) where the Fredericton native holds the world record.
