A Gold and World Record for Canadian Commonwealth Athlete Grand’Maison at Paralympic Games
Grand’Maison brings the house down with world record, gold medal at Paralympic Games
September, 08, 2012, LONDON – Valerie Grand’Maison of Montreal won the gold medal in world record time in the women’s 200-metre individual medley on Friday night at the Paralympic Games. Amber Thomas Drayton Valley, Alta., added a silver in the women’s 400 freestyle.
“I wasn’t expecting a world record,” said Grand’Maison now with three medals at the Games and nine in two Paralympics. ”This is why I train, this is why I work so hard and make those sacrifices: to surprise myself. It’s really worth it, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
In the women’s S13 200 IM for visually impaired swimmers, Grand’Maison clocked two minutes and 27.64 seconds eclipsing the previous world mark of 2:28.15 set by Chelsey Gotell of Antigonish, N.S., at the 2008 Games.
“I just focused on my race,” said Grand’Maison, who took the lead in the breaststroke leg. “ I knew what the other girls were going to do and in the 200 IM I’m in my comfort zone. I knew I could come back strong and the crowd was behind me. But I didn’t realize I was going so fast.”
Rebecca Anne Meyers of the U.S., was second in 2:30.13 and her compatriot Kelley Becherer third in 2:30.36.
