Rivard will be her own toughest rival

Canadian swimmer holds world records in three different events heading into Paralympics

- DONNA SPENCER

Aurélie Rivard, who won five medals, including two gold, at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, will be looking to add to her medal total at the Paris Games.

Aurélie Rivard is chasing herself. Canada’s most decorated para swimmer the last decade heads into her fourth Paralympic Games owning world records in three events. A winner of 10 Paralympic medals, five of them gold, the 28-year-old from St-Jean-SurRichelieu, Que., says her challenge in Paris is to go faster than she has before.

“I have to beat myself. I think I’m my biggest rival in all of this,” Rivard said. “It’s a different mentality to head to the Games being the one being chased as opposed to chasing a ranking or new medals. I am a racer. I’m also passionate about what I do. I’m going to show up and do the best that I can and race the other girls, try to stay ahead as much as possible. If I can be as close as possible to my world records or break them, then technically the medals should follow.”

The 2024 Paralympic Games start with Wednesday’s opening ceremony and end Sept. 8. Canada’s team of 126 athletes will compete in 18 sports, supported by 117 coaches and national sports organization support staff.