Commonwealth Games Champs Kylie Masse, Katerine Savard Named to Team Canada
Kylie Masse and Katerine Savard headline the Canadian team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, announced by Swimming Canada on Monday. The team comprises 31 swimmers, including eight para swimmers.
Masse won the women’s 100 and 200 backstroke in 2018 to go with silver in the 50 back. Savard, the 2014 champion in the 100 butterfly, is back for her third Commonwealth Games, after not taking part in 2018. Para swimmer Katarina Roxon is competing at her fourth Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games will take place in Birmingham, England, from July 28-Aug. 8. The swimming roster includes lots of overlap with the World Championships roster, while only eight para swimmers is a significant cut down from the 31-strong World Para Championships squad.
Aurelie Rivard; Photo Courtesy: Scott Grant
On the swimming side, Olympians Kelsey Wog and Taylor Ruck were expected omissions from the Commonwealth Games side, focusing on Worlds. Yuri Kisil was nominated to the roster last month but declined the spot to focus on a shoulder injury rehab. He’s been replaced by University of Calgary sprinter Stephen Calkins.
The para competition is fully integrated with the program. Canada will send 10-time Paralympic medalist Aurelie Rivard, two-time Paralympic medalist Nicolas-Guy Turbide and 2018 Commonwealth Games medalist Philippe Vachon to headline that contingent.
“I’m excited to be able to represent Canada at my third Commonwealth Games,” Rivard said in a press release. “It’s always a privilege to train and race next to our Olympic program competitors and witness some amazing races from Canadian swimmers as both of our teams come together.”
“It’s exciting to have some of our best Paralympic program swimmers alongside our Olympic program team for these unique Games,” Swimming Canada Associate High Performance Director and National Para Swimming Coach Wayne Lomas said. “The Commonwealth Games offers some of our very best swimmers to showcase their excellence in an integrated multi-sport event. Our Canadian team is fortunate to have Olympic and Paralympic champions training, living and racing together. Now that we have our team in place, we can focus on delivering the best possible results for Canada this summer, beginning with the World Para Swimming Championships next month in Portugal.”
Canada won 20 medals (three gold, 11 silver, six bronze) in the pool at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. It was the third-highest total at a Games for Canadian swimmers.
With a historic showing at the Tokyo Olympics last summer and rising stars like Joshua Liendo and Summer McIntosh, Canada is in position for another impressive showing.
“I’m so excited. I love Games settings,” Liendo said. “I’m looking forward to a fun environment but I’m also there to race first. It’s going to be a busy summer but I’m ready for it. I’m looking to do my thing, race hard and race fast.”
Commonwealth Games Roster
Javier Acevedo, Sophie Angus, Jeremy Bagshaw, Katrina Bellio, Nicholas Bennett, Camille Berube, Eric Brown, Stephen Calkins, Tessa Cieplucha, James Dergousoff, Alexander Eliot, Collyn Gagne, Ruslan Gaziev, Mary-Sophie Harvey, Patrick Hussey, Ella Jansen, Danielle Kisser, Finlay Knox, Joshua Liendo, Maggie MacNeil, Kylie Masse, Summer McIntosh, Penny Oleksiak, Sydney Pickrem, Aurelie Rivard, Katrina Roxon, Kayla Sanchez, Katerine Savard, Rebecca Smith, Nicholas-Guy Turbide, Philippe Vachon
Head coach: Martyn Wilby
Team coaches: Ryan Mallette, Greg Arkhurst, Mike Thompson, Rob Novak, Marc-Andre Pelletier, Linda Kiefer