Nicholas Bennett shed 香蕉视频直播渆verything香蕉视频直播 tears during O Canada at the Paralympic Games pool Monday.
The 20-year-old swimmer from Parksville, B.C., won Canada香蕉视频直播檚 first gold medal of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris with his victory in the 100-metre breaststroke.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a mix of everything,香蕉视频直播 Bennett said after the medal ceremony at La Defense Arena.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 the joy of being able to compete against the best athletes in the world and be the best out of them. Also the relief of finally showing the world I香蕉视频直播檓 here and one of them, one of the best.香蕉视频直播
Bennett is the first Canadian man to win a Paralympic gold medal in swimming since Benoit Huot in 2012 in London.
香蕉视频直播淗eavy,香蕉视频直播 was Bennett香蕉视频直播檚 assessment of his prize. 香蕉视频直播淢an, it香蕉视频直播檚 a beautiful piece of history with me.香蕉视频直播
He stood atop the podium two nights after taking silver in the 200-metre freestyle.
Bennett is the reigning world champion and holds the world record in the 200-metre individual medley, which he香蕉视频直播檒l race Wednesday.
The Canadian was the only man in Monday香蕉视频直播檚 breaststroke final to swim under one minute four seconds in a time of 1:03.98.
Jake Michel of Australia took silver in 1:04.27. Naohide Yamaguchi of Japan was the bronze medallist in 1:04.94.
Yamaguchi had beaten Bennett for the breaststroke world title last year in Manchester, England.
香蕉视频直播淚 was just more confident. We香蕉视频直播檝e been working my breaststroke every day for the last year,香蕉视频直播 Bennett said. 香蕉视频直播淏reaststroke is such a finicky race for myself.
香蕉视频直播淚 just had to hold on and race Yamaguchi. That was the only thing that mattered at that moment.香蕉视频直播
When asked how it felt to beat world-record holder Yamaguchi, Bennett shook with emotion and needed a moment to compose himself.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 having a hard time speaking right now. It was surprising to say the least,香蕉视频直播 he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 saw him in my peripherals and I just had to hunker down the last few metres.香蕉视频直播
Bennett, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of three, races in the S14 classification for athletes with an intellectual impairment.
His older sister Haley Bennett-Osborne, who has been his full-time coach since 2022, watched from the arena seats as her brother executed the work they香蕉视频直播檇 done to improve his breaststroke.
香蕉视频直播淩ight now, I香蕉视频直播檓 tired, but during it was I was so excited I could barely watch,香蕉视频直播 Bennett-Osborne said.
香蕉视频直播淗e really clinched on the last 25 (metres). That香蕉视频直播檚 what we香蕉视频直播檝e been working on the last year because that香蕉视频直播檚 where we thought he could improve on from Manchester when he got silver.香蕉视频直播
香蕉视频直播淏reaststroke is such a technical stroke, we thought it was really important to dial in how he was going to feel in that moment when there香蕉视频直播檚 lots of excitement, and its really emotional and he香蕉视频直播檚 super-tired, super-fatigued. Technique was everything that 25 metres.香蕉视频直播
The siblings relocated from Vancouver Island to Red Deer, Alta., last year when Bennett-Osborne got a job coaching the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club at the Michener Recreation Centre.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think we have the typical sibling dynamic,香蕉视频直播 Bennett said.
香蕉视频直播淪he香蕉视频直播檚 always been quite responsible for her age and an amazing human being to say the least. It香蕉视频直播檚 just chemistry I guess. She香蕉视频直播檚 probably the only person I trust fully to get me to this point.香蕉视频直播
Osborne-Bennett, 24, echoed that trust is the key to the siblings making their coach-athlete relationship work.
香蕉视频直播淓specially with his designation, it香蕉视频直播檚 really important to have someone that understands his specific behaviours and training mentality,香蕉视频直播 she said.
香蕉视频直播淚 just think I know him really well, so it香蕉视频直播檚 easier for me.香蕉视频直播
Canadians have won five medals in the pool in Paris. Swimming continues until Saturday.
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