Para-swimmer Rivard crushes personal best time en route to tonight’s final

Paralympic swimmer Aurélie Rivard of Montreal had a huge swim this morning en route to the finals of the women’s 100m breaststroke SB9 class at Tollcross International Swimming Centre, improving her personal best time by nearly two seconds.

Rivard placed fourth in the heat in 1:23.67. Her previous personal best was 1:25.75.

“It went really well,” said Rivard. “I got a best time, which I wasn’t expecting. My goal was just to match my best time and it went great. I hope I can do even better tonight.

“I haven’t been doing anything different technically, but I’ve been improving my technique. My coach talked to me just before the race and I applied what I’ve been working on all week.”

At just 18 years old, Rivard is one of Canada’s top Paralympic swimmers. She won a silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. At the 2013 IPC World Championships she was the only Canadian swimmer to win five medals – three silvers and two bronze.

Katarina Roxon (Kippens, NL) qualified in sixth place in 1:25.37 and will also swim in tonight’s final at 20:02 local time.

New Zealand star and five-time Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Pascoe goes in to the final as the favorite after winning the heat in 1:19.71.