Canadian swimmers earn 15 more medals at Parapan Am Games

Canadian swimmers Tess Routliffe, left, and Camille Berube pose with their silver and bronze medals respectively in women's 200m IM SM8 (SM7-8) final at the Parapan Am Games in Toronto on August 11, 2015.(Darren Calabrese / The Canadian Press)

TORONTO -- The fatigue is beginning to show after a long week of swimming but that didn't stop the flow of gold medals for Canada's swimmers at the 2015 Parapan American Games Wednesday.

Aurelie Rivard earned her fourth gold of the Games, Tess Routliffe won two races on the day and the men swept the S11-13 400-meter freestyle.

In the most anticipated race of the night Benoit Huot finished second in the S10 200 individual medley, while Alec Elliot was third.

It wasn't the result Huot wanted after winning the 400 freestyle the previous evening.

"I was favoured to get the gold," said the native of Longueuil, Que., who was timed in two minutes, 14.32 seconds. "It wasn't my greatest performance."

Brazil's Andre Brasil won in 2:12.22. That was a Parapan Games record but well off Huot's world record of 2:10.01 set at the 2012 London Paralympics.

"I'm disappointed," said Huot, who was born with club feet. "I have to congratulate Andre because he went the best time."

Elliot, of Kitchener, Ont., took bronze in 2:17.45. Isaac Bouckley, of Montreal, was fourth in 2:22.38.

Canadian swimmers won 15 medals Wednesday (five gold, five silver, five bronze), bringing their total to 66 (18-27-21). Brazil leads in the pool with 68 (24-20-24).

Rivard, of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., won the S9-10 200 IM in a Parapan Games record 2:30.89 for her fifth medal. Katarina Roxon, of Kippens, N.L, was second in 2:39.45.

The Parapan Ams follow last month's IPC Swimming World Championships and the toil is beginning to show on Rivard.

"It's been a long summer," said the 19-year-old, who was born without a left hand. "I'm getting tired."

It was a golden day for Routliffe, who climbed on top of the podium twice while setting two Parapan records.

During the morning the 16-year-old from Caledon, Ont., won the S7 100 freestyle in 1:15.46 seconds. Teammate Sarah Mehain took silver in 1:19.48.

In the evening Routliffe won the S7 100 breaststroke in 1:39.55 while Camille Berube, of Gatineau, Que., was third in 1:46.97.

"It gives me confidence to know I can perform under pressure," said Routliffe.

After winning two silvers in backstroke, Devin Gotell won his first gold, leading a Canadian sweep of the S11-13 400 freestyle. His time of 4:27.46 broke the Parapan record of 4:32.35 he set in the morning heats.

Gotell was pleased to finally reach the top of the podium in the race for the visually impaired.

"It felt great to be able to come and do this. It was the icing on the cake," said the Montreal native.

Nicolas Turbide, of Quebec City, was second in 4:28.68 while Tyler Mrak, of Aldergrove, B.C., took bronze in 4:43.09.

Justine Morrier, of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, won the S14 100 breaststroke in 1:27.94. Placing third in the race for the intellectually challenged was Kirstie Kasko, of Okotoks, Alta., in 1:29.54.

Gordie Michie, of St. Thomas, Ont., was third in the men's S14 100 breast in 1:14.36.

Jean-Michele Lavalliere earned his third silver with a time of 1:09.16 in the S7 100 freestyle. The Montreal native, who has cerebral palsy, was the fourth fastest in qualifying.

"It's all about the process," he said. "It's not a best time but I think it showed character."

Canada has 37 gold and 113 total medals through five days of competition at the Games, which is good for second. Brazil is ahead with 69 gold and 166 medals overall.

Also Wednesday, Priscilla Gagne of Sarnia, Ont., took silver in the women's under-52-kilogram judo event, beating Argentina's Rocio Ledesma in her final match to finish second in the rankings behind Brazil's Michele Ferreira.

In athletics, Pamela LeJean, of Cape Breton, N.S., won the gold medal in F53-55 women's shot put with a Parapan Am Games record throw of 4.22 metres.

Toronto's Jason Roberts earned gold in F32-34 men's shot put with a personal-best toss of 10.33 while Kyle Pettey, from Brampton, Ont., claimed the bronze (8.93).

Vanessa Murby, of Salt Spring Island, B.C., won the bronze medal in F11-12 women's discus with a throw of 27.02.

Calgary's Jennifer Brown won the gold in F20/37/38 women's shot put with a throw of 10.42 and Renee Foessel, Mississauga, Ont. won the silver at 10.14. The two flipped spots in the F37/38/44 shot put, with Foessel taking gold at 30.75 and Brown claiming silver with 28.06.

"We are aiming for long-term goals," said Foessel. "We can both achieve the podium."

Kenneth Trudgeon, of London, Ont. won the bronze in F46 men's discus with 37.12.

On the track, Brent Lakatos, from Dorval, Que., won the gold medal in the T53 men's 800 with a time of 1:54.14. Mitchell Chase, of Pickering, Ont. took the gold in the T38 men's 1500 at 4:34.68. Guillaume Ouellet, from Victoriaville, Que., earned gold in T13 men's 1500 with a time of 4:07.27 and Alexandre Dupont, of Clarenceville, Que., claimed a gold medal in T54 men's 400 at 49.77.

Leah Robinson, of Kitchener, Ont., found a spot on the podium in the T37 women's 200, taking the bronze in 31.94.

David Eng had 20 points and nine rebounds as Canada's men's wheelchair basketball team beat Puerto Rico 73-34 in the quarter-finals. They will face Brazil on Friday in the semis.

"Step by step, inch by inch, and game by game, we are building toward our goal of securing our spot in Rio. We are a young team that is rebuilding, and we know what we have to do to be successful," said head coach Steve Bialowas.

Canada lost 60-59 to the U.S. to conclude the preliminary round of wheelchair rugby and will play Brazil in the semifinals on Thursday.

Elsewhere, Canada lost 8-0 to Brazil in seven-a-side soccer, and Brazil beat Canada 12-2 in men's goalball.