Swimming Success for Liendo and Masse
Joshua Liendo, a swimmer from Toronto, secured a gold medal for Canada at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday. Liendo successfully defended his title in the men’s 100-metre butterfly event, setting a meet record with a time of 50.42 seconds. He outpaced Matthew Temple, who finished in 50.43 seconds, and Ben Armbruster, who recorded 50.58 seconds, both from Australia, at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
Liendo commented on his strategy, stating he focused on managing the heats and semifinals on the first day. For the final, he aimed to take control early, push through at the end, and finish strongly. He also mentioned wanting to build momentum without overdoing the first 50 metres, focusing on a strong turn and finish.
Approximately 90 minutes after his gold medal win, Liendo competed in the 50-metre freestyle, where he finished fourth with a time of 21.55 seconds. Cameron McEvoy of Australia won gold in this event with 20.97 seconds, followed by Flynn Southam (21.44 seconds) and Jamie Jack (21.47 seconds).
In other swimming events, Kylie Masse earned a silver medal in the women’s 100-metre backstroke. This marks her 10th career Commonwealth Games medal, making her the most decorated Canadian female swimmer at the Games. Masse, from LaSalle, Ont., finished in 58.77 seconds, behind Iona Alexandra Anderson of Australia. Olivia Nel of South Africa took the bronze medal with a time of 1:00.09.
Gymnastics Triumphs for Black, Dolci, and Fontaine
Halifax gymnast Ellie Black made history by becoming the first individual to win two all-around gymnastics crowns at the Commonwealth Games. Black, who previously won the title in 2018, achieved a winning score of 53.050. She surpassed Breanna Scott of Australia, who scored 52.900. Lia-Monica Fontaine, a 16-year-old from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que., secured the bronze medal with 52.800 in her debut at the Games.
Black, a four-time Olympian, expressed her hope that her achievement would inspire future generations, emphasizing that there is no age limit in women’s sports and gymnastics. Fontaine shared her excitement about reaching the podium, calling it a significant opportunity.
In the men’s gymnastics all-around final, Félix Dolci of Laval, Que., earned a silver medal, his second medal of the competition. Dolci scored 79.450, placing him close to gold medalist Reuben Ward of host Scotland at the Glasgow International Arena. Jesse Moore of Australia secured the bronze with 79.000.
Dolci also topped the individual standings with a score of 81.650 during the men’s team event on Friday. Canada also earned a silver medal in the women’s gymnastics team event on Saturday. As of Sunday, Canada’s total medal count at the Games reached nine: three gold, three silver, and three bronze.
Wheelchair Basketball Teams Face England
On Sunday, both the Canadian men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams faced losses against England, bringing their play records to 1-1. The Canadian women’s team, with flag-bearer Kady Dandeneau scoring 11 points, lost to England with a score of 15-12. Dandeneau noted that nerves might have affected their performance, leading to a failure to execute certain plays and allowing England to gain an early lead.
The Canadian men’s team subsequently lost their match to England by a score of 20-10. Both Canadian wheelchair basketball teams are scheduled to compete against Australia on Monday. The Commonwealth Games are set to continue through August 2nd.
Source: theglobeandmail.com
