Canada concluded the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, on a high note by securing bronze in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay. Taylor Ruck from Kelowna, B.C., led the team to a final time of three minutes 56.43 seconds, securing third place behind Australia and Sweden.
The Canadian squad, consisting of Sophie Angus from Toronto, Rebecca Smith from Red Deer, Alta., and Ingrid Wilm from Calgary, added to their medal collection. Earlier, Wilm secured bronze in both the 50m and 100m backstroke events. Smith and Ruck also claimed bronze in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
Canada’s total medal count for the championships reached 11, including two gold, three silver, and six bronze medals, placing them sixth overall among participating countries. Notably, seven medals were won in swimming events, with additional successes in artistic swimming and high diving.
Rebecca Smith and Taylor Ruck’s medal tally now stands at eight each, tying them for third place among Canadian athletes, alongside Ryan Cochrane, Maggie Mac Neil, and Summer McIntosh. Penny Oleksiak and Kylie Masse lead with nine medals each.
High-performance director and national coach John Atkinson praised the athletes and coaching staff for their achievements, emphasizing the team’s consistent dedication and effort.
China led the medal count with 33 total medals, including 23 gold medals. Despite narrowly missing the podium in the men’s 4x100m medley relay, the Canadian team performed admirably throughout the competition.
With all seven Olympic relays ranking within the top 16 times, Canada is poised to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Athletes will now shift their focus to the Olympic and Paralympic trials scheduled for May 13-19 in Montreal, aiming to secure their spots for the upcoming Games.
In other Canadian results, Taylor Ruck placed fifth in the women’s 50m freestyle final, while Lorne Wiggington and Tessa Cieplucha achieved seventh-place finishes in the men’s and women’s 400m medley races, respectively.
