Swimming Canada announced Friday that 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Katerine Savard is withdrawing from the upcoming Commonwealth Games due to health reasons.
“This has been a difficult decision,” Savard said. “Representing my country has been the thing that I am the most proud of and I hope to be able to do it again.”
Savard, 24, has been on every Canadian Senior National Team since 2010, and does plan on competing later in the summer. She’ll re-focus her training for the Canadian Swimming Trials in July, where she’ll look to qualify for the Pan Pacific Championships in August.
Savard won bronze on the Canadian 800 free relay in Rio, and has also won medals at the SC World Championships, the Pan Pacific Championships, the Commonwealth Games, the Pan Am Games, and the World University Games. One of the biggest wins of her career came four years ago at the last Commonwealth Games, where she won gold in the 100 fly over Great Britain’s Siobhan-Marie O’Connor and Australia’s Emma McKeon. Now with her unable to defend her title, perhaps fellow Canadian Penny Oleksiak can bring home the crown.
The opening ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games will take place on April 4th, with swimming beginning on the 5th. They are being held on the Gold Coast in Australia.
Katerine best wishes for a speedy recovery! I have enjoyed watching your incredible career and hope to see you back representing Canada. Thank you!