Canada has a new Paralympic swim star on its hands.
Katie Cosgriffe, just 18, took home the bronze medal Tuesday in the women’s 100m butterfly (S10) at Paris La Defense Arena.
The Oakville, Ont., native made the turn in third and used her strong closing speed to keep up pace. She was able to fend off a late surge from a pair of Australians and just out-touched them for third.
Cosgrove’s time of 1:07.22 was .09 faster than her qualifying round where she won her heat.
“I’ve had this in my mind for a while,” she told Swim Canada. “I knew this was always a possibility, but I didn’t see it actually happening. The fact now it’s real, I’m really happy how it went.
“I’m not overly (happy) with my time, but I can’t complain about that because I won a medal.”
Great Britain’s Faye Rogers and Callie-Ann Warrington won gold and silver, respectively. Rogers’ winning time was 1:05.84, while Warrington posted a 1:06.41.
For Cosgriffe, the race marks the first podium in her Paralymic debut. It’s been a quick rise up the ranks for the swimmer, who obtained her international classification only one year ago.
Her races at Manchester in the World Championships earned her the title of 2023 Breakout Para Swimmer of the Year while being the youngest on Canada’s roster.
She will be back in the pool Friday for the 100m backstroke.
