Canada’s Penny Oleksiak has won a gold medal in the 100-metre freestyle race in swimming.
She’s the first Canadian to ever get four medals at a single Summer Olympic Games. And she’s only 16 years-old.
The Toronto native has also won a silver medal in the 100-metre butterfly, and two bronze medals in the 4×100 and 4×200 metre freestyle relays.
Oleksiak had a slow start and was seventh at the 50-metre mark. She needed a strong finish, and finish she did. Oleksiak swam the final 50 metres in 27 seconds, 0.46 faster than the next closest competitor.
Overall, Oleksiak swam the race in 52.7 seconds, setting a new Olympic record.
#CAN Penny Oleksiak ties for #Gold in 100m freestyle, setting an Olympic record in the process #Rio2016 https://t.co/AQc7xUNfRL
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 12, 2016
She actually finished in a tie with Simone Manuel of the United States, who will also receive a gold medal. Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden picked up the bronze.
“Honestly the last 50-metres, I put my head down and I bit my lip, and I was just going as hard as I could,” Oleksiak said.
This is the first gold medal in swimming for Canada since Mark Tewksbury in 1992.
A 24 year gold draught for Canada is over. So proud to pass the baton to @OleksiakPenny. Incredible. 7th at 50m and ties for the win. Wow
— Mark Tewksbury (@marktewks) August 12, 2016
Oleksiak’s work, remarkably, still isn’t done. She will race in the 4×100 metre medley relay heat on Friday.
After that, you can bet that she’ll be Canada’s flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony.
.@OleksiakPenny sends her first message back home from our studio in Rio🏅 https://t.co/BDQANPjswK
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 12, 2016
See also
- 16 facts about Canada's 16-year-old Olympic star Penny Oleksiak
- Canada off to record start at Rio Olympics, and we have our women to thank
- 16-year-old Penny Oleksiak wins Canada's first silver medal at Rio 2016 Olympics
- Canada wins bronze in 4x200 m freestyle swimming at Rio 2016 Olympics
- Canada wins first medal at Rio 2016 Olympics, bronze in women's 4x100 m swimming relay