ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Olympic champion Maggie Mac Neil provided the final kick in an anchor leg that propelled Canada to gold in the mixed 4x50-metre mixed relay at the world short-course swimming championships on Friday.
Mac Neil, who won three medals, including gold, at the Tokyo Olympics, reeled in two swimmers on the final leg as Canada clocked a national record of one minute 28.55 seconds.
She was joined atop the podium by teammates Josh Liendo, Yuri Kisil and Kayla Sanchez, while Rebecca Smith and Katerine Savard, who swam in the heats of the relay, also receive gold medals.
Mac Neil said the win was redemption after a slow relay exchange between her and Sanchez left Canada 0.13 seconds out of a medal in the women’s 4x50 medley relay earlier in the competition.
“I knew there were a lot of things I needed to fix after the medley relay final and with an outside lane I knew we had a pretty good shot. It was all about putting together a perfect race," she said.
Kyle Masse also added to Canada's medal haul on Friday by winning silver in the women's 100-metre backstroke with a Canadian record time of 55.22 seconds. Louise Hansson of Sweden earned gold in 50.20, while Katharine Berkoff of the U.S. claimed bronze in 55.40.
“I’m really pleased with it,” said Masse, a triple medallist in Tokyo. “It was a best time by a long shot, I haven’t been that fast in a while. It was a super tight finish, Louise is a great swimmer and to be super close to her at a worlds is amazing.”
Masse's silver was the fifth medal for Canada at the event, which runs through Tuesday.
The short-course championships is in a 25-metre pool, as opposed to Olympic or world aquatic championship competition, which is in a 50-metre pool.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2021.
The Canadian Press
