Katie Cosgriffe kicked off the final day of the Para Pan Pacific Swimming Championships with a stunning performance, clinching Canada’s first gold medal at the event. The 20-year-old athlete from Burlington, Ontario, secured victory in the women’s multi-class 100-meter backstroke final, clocking a season-best time of 1:08.1.
Speaking to CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux post-race, Cosgriffe shared her race strategy, emphasizing her focus on executing her own plan without getting distracted by external factors. The triumph marks Cosgriffe’s inaugural international gold medal achievement.
Cosgriffe, recognized as an S10 swimmer, had previously claimed a bronze medal in the 100m butterfly event at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Reflecting on her performance in the preliminary rounds, she highlighted the importance of using this competition as preparation for the upcoming Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
Although Cosgriffe fell slightly short of her time target, expressing a desire to break the 1:08 mark, she embraced the victory as a rewarding conclusion to a demanding season. She acknowledged the challenges faced throughout the season and expressed gratitude for ending it on a high note with a gold medal.
