2024 Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Trials
kylie masse The final two days of the Canadian Olympic Trials in Toronto reminded everyone that she is a major medal contender in the women's backstroke.
The 28-year-old Mase ran a time of 57.94 seconds in the women's 100 meters on Wednesday, breaking the 58-second barrier for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
She continued that momentum on Thursday, dropping her 200 back time under 2:07 for the first time since 2021.
“I feel good. I'm really satisfied,” Masse said. “I haven't been that good in a long time, and I don't think I've ever run that fast at this point in the year. I've never run under 2:07 at a world championship or an Olympics. are only major international tournaments.
“So, it felt really good and I'm very satisfied. We'll see later, but I just wanted to enjoy how it felt and the moments that I've gotten through the last few days. There is only.
“I have to go over it technically with the coach on video and check the splits and everything, but I can't complain about the last two days. This is a big step up from me last year and I still have a lot of work to do. I know there's still a lot left to do. I know my competitors around the world are working hard and they still have challenges ahead of them, but I'm just focused. I also want to build on these two days.”
Paris backstroke field
Masse won bronze in the 100m backstroke at the 2016 Rio Olympics and later won silver in both distances with Australian athletes in Tokyo. Kayley McKeown Sweeping gold medals in backstroke.
McCune and American from 2021 onwards regan smith Although he has dominated the 100m and 200m, Masse gradually faded from the spotlight as a player who could challenge that combination in Paris.
At the 2023 World Championships, McCune and Smith went 1-2 in all three distances, while Masse missed the podium, finishing fourth in the 50m and 100m and fifth in the 200m.
But that sentiment changed this week, with Masse proving that despite being one of the older swimmers in the field, he's still a force to be reckoned with as he continues to produce elite performances. .
“I think I've known over the last two years that my performance wasn't my ability. So to come here this year and be able to do these two (performances) is a great gift for the world. “It's meaningful to me personally,” she said. “Whether it's a statement to other people or not, it doesn't really matter, but I have to be happy with it and I have to be able to build it myself.”
Masse returned to Paris to solidify his position as a podium favorite in the 100m, ranking third in the world behind McCune (57.33 points) and Smith (57.64), and in the 200m with McCune (2:03.84), He finished fourth with Smith. (2:03.99) And the Americans Claire Curzan (2:05.77) to maintain his top three spot.
200 back run
Masse has had some ups and downs in the 200 meters throughout his career. She has clocked sub-2:05 times four times, once in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021, but has never been able to achieve sub-100 seconds throughout her career. Such stability has not yet been achieved.
After winning silver in Tokyo and setting a Canadian record of 2:05.42, Masse placed fifth at the past two world championships with times of 2:08.00 in Budapest and 2:07.52 in Fukuoka. It's in.
When asked if he's been more focused on the 200-meter race lately since it's an Olympic year, Masse answered, “Honestly, I don't know.” “I was thinking about that a little bit last night, because the 100s have always been my preference, and I feel like I've waxed and waned with the 200s over the past eight years.
“Back in 2016, I couldn’t swim 50 meters or 200 meters, I only had 100 meters, and in 2017 I probably made it to the semi-finals in the 200 meters and the semi-finals in the 50 meters. Every year since then, I've made some kind of progress.
“But I think the 200 meters is where I struggled the most. But for me it's when I'm overthinking and I'm changing my strokes and that's not helping me, so I need to relax. There's a learning curve. ”
