2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
- Thursday, April 5th – Tuesday, April 10th (swimming)
- Optus Aquatic Centre, Gold Coast, Australia
- Official Commonwealth Games website
- Meet Schedule + Results
17-year-old Taylor Ruck capped off an incredible six days of swimming at the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday, winning a silver medal in the women’s 400 medley relay for a total of eight for the meet. In winning eight medals, she ties the all-time record for medal count by an athlete at a single Games. She joins swimmers Ralph Hutton (1966) of Canada, and Australians Susie O’Neill (1998) and Emily Seebohm (2010).
“I’m just so honoured to be able to win that many medals,” Ruck said. “This meet has been so much fun, and I’m so glad to finish it with these girls by my side”. (Quote via CBC).
Ruck swam the anchor leg on the Canadian medley relay, her 16th swim of the meet, as they battled with Australia but ultimately finished 2nd in 3:55.10. Joining her were teammates Kylie Masse, who won three individual medals including two gold in the 100 and 200 back, Kierra Smith, who won an individual silver, and Penny Oleksiak, who walks away with the three relay silvers.
Over the course of the meet Ruck won gold in the 200 free, silver in the 50 free, 200 back and all three relays, and bronzes in the 100 free and 100 back. She also broke Canadian Records in the 50 and 200 free, and also lowered her best time in the 100 back.
Taylor Ruck Medal Breakdown
| Day | Event |
| Day 1 | GOLD – 200 free (1:54.81 – CAN Record) |
| Day 1 | SILVER – 400 free relay (3:33.92) |
| Day 3 | SILVER – 50 free (24.26 – CAN Record) |
| Day 3 | BRONZE – 100 back (58.97 – PB) |
| Day 3 | SILVER – 800 free relay (7:49.66) |
| Day 4 | SILVER – 200 back (2:06.42) |
| Day 5 | BRONZE – 100 free (53.08) |
| Day 6 | SILVER – 400 medley relay (3:55.10) |
After getting a taste of Olympic action in Rio, winning a pair of relay bronzes, Ruck will certainly be one to watch for as we head into Tokyo 2020. Ruck and her fellow Canadians will be back in action in July, as they’ll compete at home in an attempt to qualify for the Pan Pacific Championships in August.
Our Canadian women swimmers were fantastic. Canadian male swimmers not as evident in the winners results. Any reason or excuses ?
It will be interesting what event decisions she makes for pan pacs and world championships. The 4×200 free relay seemed to be the breaking point for her on the week, those first three days were tough.
Unlike at the CWG, Canada may not have the luxury to rest Ruck in all relays prelims at the Worlds and Olympics. That would be 8 relays swims in total.
Plus 5 individual events (prelims, semis, finals), that’s a lot of swimming.
I have to think that 200fr, 200bk will be her primary, for-sure events. Beyond that, I guess it will depend a lot on the schedule.
24-53-1:54 is ridiculous range. Only Sjostrom can do all 3 events at a high level than that.