RIO DE JANEIRO – Canada’s run of Olympic medals in the swimming pool was interrupted Tuesday. Santo Condorelli wants to restart it.
The 21-year-old from Kenora, Ont., became the first male on Canada’s swim team to qualify for an individual final in Rio.
Condorelli posted the fastest 100-metre freestyle time of his life in Tuesday’s semifinal. His time of 47.93 tied for third-fastest among the eight men swimming for medals Wednesday.
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“Obviously top three,” Condorelli said of his target. “Bring home some hardware for the men’s team.”
He’s chasing the country’s second medal in as many Summer Games in the men’s 100 freestyle. Brent Hayden from Mission, B.C., won bronze in 2012.
Canada collected a swim medal on each of the first three days of racing starting with the women’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay bronze Saturday, Penny Oleksiak’s butterfly silver Sunday and Kylie Masse’s backstroke bronze Monday.
Sydney Pickrem, from Oldsmar, Fla., but representing Canada, placed sixth in the women’s 200 individual medley Tuesday.
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Team veteran Audrey Lacroix of Pont-Rouge, Que., swam the last Olympic race of her career. The 32-year-old did not advance out of the 200-metre butterfly semifinals.
Oleksiak is back in the pool Wednesday for the heats and semifinals of the women’s 100-freestyle, and joined by Winnipeg’s Chantal Van Landeghem who won a relay bronze with Oleksiak.
The women will also race the 4 x 200 free relay.
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Condorelli did not speak to reporters after his swim Tuesday. His comments were supplied by a media spokesperson after Condorelli passed through the interview area with a towel on his head.
Yuri Kisil, who swam in Condorelli’s heat, praised Condorelli for his performance and his influence on himself.
“Best time for him by five hundredths, great spot for him,” Kisil said. “I contribute a lot of my success to Santo coming here because I get to race one of the best in the world all the time. It’s making me step my game up.”
The 21-year-old Calgarian fell short of another swim tying for 10th in the semifinals, but he laid down the fastest 100 of his career in 48.28.
WATCH: Canadian women continue to shine in the Olympic pool
Pickrem was over a second off her career best time in the women’s individual medley. The 19-year-old also did not stop to talk to reporters.
Lacroix, competing in her third and final Olympic Games, reflected on her long career with both laughter and tears.
The 32-year-old won Pan American Games gold in Toronto last year and Commonwealth Games gold in 2014.
“I’m really blessed to have this opportunity to race tonight,” Lacroix said. “I think I’m ready to do other things. I love this sport so much, but I feel the last few months I didn’t love racing as much as I used to.”
Condorelli swam the lead-off leg of Canada’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay that placed seventh Sunday. He wasn’t pleased with his swim.
“I was kind of caught up in the moment ‘oh I’m finally at the Olympics,”‘ he said. “It’s been a long journey and I kind of lost sight for a quick bit in those relays. I got a chance to bounce back. I’m getting more and more confident as the meet goes (on).”
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