Kylie Masse Breaks CAN Record In 100 Back, Wins First Olympic Medal

2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

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• Swimming: August 6-13
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Canadian Kylie Masse culminated an incredible last twelve months with a bronze medal in the women’s 100 back, breaking her own national record in a time of 58.76. Thats break her previous record of 59.06, set both at the Canadian Olympic Trials in April and again tied it in the semi-finals last night.

Masse’s incredible year included taking ownership of four of the six Canadian backstroke records, multiple CIS Championship titles and being named the CIS Athlete of the Year.

Masse has had an incredible rate of improvement, finishing off 2014 with a best time of 1:02.70, 2015 with a time of 59.97, and now sits in the middle of 2016 with a time of 58.76.

Masse’s swim of 59.97 gave her the win at the 2015 World University Games, her first international medal.

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu won the race in a time of 58.45, which was a bit of a surprise, though it was clear she was on unbelievable form after winning the 400 IM in a new world record on night 1. American Kathleen Baker won silver in 58.75, just 0.01 ahead of Masse, and the bronze will actually be shared between Masse and China’s Fu Yuanhui.

Masse’s medal makes her the first Canadian female to win an Olympic backstroke medal in 40 years, and the first Canadian backstroke medalist in general in 24 years.

Canada’s total medal total over the last three Olympics in the pool was three, and now they have three in three days. Also of note, all three of those medals from the previous three Games came from men.