In her eleventh race at the Pan American Games, swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey knew she was going to have to use strategy to help the Canadian team in the 4x100m medley relay as the last runner. Strategy that worked “to perfection”, good for gold and a seventh medal for her in Santiago.
“After the 200m medley, I was really sore,” Harvey admitted Wednesday. For what ? She had just won the silver medal in this event behind her teammate Sydney Pickrem, author of a Pan-American record. A tenth race in five days which left its mark. The Quebecer seemed exhausted when she left the water after this individual final.
This second place above all had the effect of motivating the Trifluvienne at the conclusion of her second Pan American Games. With the accumulated fatigue over the last few days, she managed her efforts accordingly and set a trap for her American opponent.
“I know my strengths and weaknesses. I told myself that I was going to let her come the first 50 meters so as not to force anything and I was going to take her back on the return, she confided to Sportcom in the mixed zone, a few minutes before going to the awards ceremony. medals to hear the Canadian national anthem.
Mary-Sophie Harvey teamed up with Danielle Hanus, Rachel Nicol and Maggie Mac Neil in this final. Mac Neil handed the final relay to Harvey with a lead of 54 hundredths of a second. The American Catie De Loof began to climb back up, exactly as the Quebecer had planned.
“I saw that she wanted to catch up with me and I said to myself “go ahead, catch me here, the race won’t be won in the first 50 meters! “It’s something I had to learn over time. What matters is how you finish,” Harvey clarified.
De Loof had reduced the gap to just 11 hundredths of a second with 50m to go and the Canadian representative accelerated slightly in the final stretch. The clock stopped at 3:58.76 when she touched the wall to the cheers of her teammates.
The Americans (0.66 seconds) received the silver medal, while the Mexicans took bronze (5.97 seconds).
As they have done throughout the Games, the Canadian finalists joined their teammates who swam in qualifications in the mixed zone after the ceremony, just before answering questions from journalists. The finalists then presented the medals to Katerine Savard, Brooklyn Douthwright, Madelyn Gatrall and Sophie Angus, a tradition for the Canadian team since the start of the competition in Santiago after the relay finals.
A haul of seven medals in eight events places Mary-Sophie Harvey just short of the Pan American Games record for the greatest number of medals at the same edition.
“It was my biggest international week. Seven medals! I was disappointed to finish fourth in the 100m freestyle, I would have liked to equal the record which is eight. Missing by 14 hundredths in the 100m freestyle was a tough pill to swallow, but I can’t be sad either! I had my best time in this event. At the start of the Olympic year, this bodes well for the future. »
Earlier Wednesday, Quebecer Timothé Barbeau was in action in the 1500m event. First in his wave, he finally placed 8th in 15 min 35.59 sec.
Brazilian Guilherme Costa won gold at the end of the day with a time of 15:9.29. The American John William Gallant (3.65 seconds) and the Venezuelan Alfonso Mestre (10.31 seconds) accompanied him on the podium.
