Canada’s Kylie Masse has won the silver medal in the women’s 100-metre backstroke at the Tokyo Olympics.
The LaSalle, Ont., native posted a time of 57.72 seconds in the event final Tuesday, just a fraction of a second behind Australian Kaylee McKeown, who took the gold. Regan Smith of the United States took the bronze.
Masse came out flying right out of the gate and was in the lead after the turn at the halfway point. But McKeown, who was on Masse’s heels throughout the race, was able to steadily gain ground before stealing the win.
Masse’s medal is the third for Canada’s swimming team, including the country’s first gold medal of the Games won by Margaret Mac Neil in the 100-metre butterfly on Monday.
Mac Neil also won silver along with Kayla Sanchez, Penny Oleksiak and Rebecca Smith in the women’s 100-metre relay on Sunday.
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In a press conference Tuesday, Masse said watching her teammates’ success was inspiring. “It’s incredibly powerful to see someone else succeed,” she said. “It makes you want to be a part of it and it creates this atmosphere that’s electric and so positive. So watching the girls win the silver, watching Maggie win gold, it’s so motivating.”
So far, Canada has also won another silver in the women’s synchronized three-metre springboard diving event and a bronze in women’s judo — Canada’s first medal ever won in the latter sport.
Masse tied for Olympic bronze with China’s Fu Yuanhui in Rio in 2016.
The only other women in the world to win multiple career medals in 100 backstroke are American Natalie Coughlin, Krisztina Egerszegi of Hungary and Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe.
Canada’s Mark Tewksbury won men’s 100 backstroke gold in 1992.
–With files from the Canadian Press
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