Pan Pacific Junior Championships 2024
One day before the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, Team Canada is in third place in the medal table with two gold medals (one behind Japan) and a total of 14 medals. Four of those medals were won on Day 3, highlighted by Aiden Norman and completed the sweep of the boys’ backstroke competitions.
Hear what the Canadian medalists had to say below, courtesy of Swimming in Canada.
Boys’ events
Norman, 18, won the 200m backstroke in 1:57.67, a new personal best by 0.08 seconds. “It’s day 3 of the competition and I’ve been swimming a lot so I knew I had to do my absolute best tonight to win the 2 (sic) back. The guys really gave me a hard time but I didn’t underestimate them and swam my best race even though I feel tired,” he said.
Norman was accompanied on the podium by Ethan Ekkwhen he finished in 1:58.28 and gave Team Canada 1st-3rd place.
The pair were back behind the starting blocks to finish the session in the boys’ 4×100 freestyle relay. They teamed up with Kim Laon And Francis Brennanwith a time of 3:19.07 he won bronze behind Australia (3:18.54) and the United States (3:18.97). “The energy and the spirit of the guys gave me a little boost after the 2 (sic) return legs,” said Norman, who won his fifth medal of the competition with the relay bronze. “It was a great race and I’m really proud of these guys and how they performed.”
“It wasn’t perfect, but I’m still happy with the result,” Kim said. “Another medal for Canada is another medal, so you can’t complain. Overall, all the guys had a really good race and we had fun, which is the most important thing.”
Girls Events
For the girls, the 4×100 freestyle relay was Delia Lloyd, Jenna Walters, Matea Gigovic, And Reina Liu won bronze in a time of 3:42.34. The USA won with the relay in 3:36.49, while the Australians took silver in 3:39.09.
Lloyd, who led the Canadian relay team, said: “I just wanted to get us off to a good start and set the tone for the rest of the relay. I think we all fought really well and did our best.”
“It’s so exciting and I feel really honored to represent my country,” added 14-year-old Liu. “It means a lot to me.”
