No. 19 Canada win 15 TO2015 swimming medals

“The crowd helped me a lot today. Their energy was overwhelming and their support certainly got me to the wall first."

If proof was ever needed that a crowd can give the home team the edge in sport then they should look no further than the second day of swimming at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games when hosts Canada won a staggering 15 out of 45 medals.

“Super Sunday”, when the haul included five golds in the pool, has made it to the No. 19 spot in the IPC’s Top Moments of 2015.

Following a thrilling Opening Ceremony, Canada won seven medals on the first day of swimming competition at Toronto 2015 and hopes were high that they could at least double that tally on the Sunday.

In the day’s morning session, Canada won a silver and bronze in the men’s 400m freestyle S8 courtesy of Zack Mcallister and Zach Zona to set up a tantalising evening session.

The crowd was not left disappointed, and in the evening’s first race Morgan Bird won a thrilling women’s 400m freestyle S8. Trailing at the 200m mark, Bird upped the pace in the second half of the race to win in a new Games record time. Teammate Sabrina Duchense took the bronze.

In the very next race, the home crowd was jubilant as Canada swept the podium in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB9. James Leroux broke the Games record to finish ahead of teammates Isaac Bouckley and Alexander Elliot.

The women’s 100m breaststroke SB9 was up next and, despite Argentina’s Daniela Gimenez taking the gold, Aurelie Rivard and Sarah Girard took silver and bronze respectively to keep the medal run going.

After an exhilarating start, the home crowd caught their breath as the hosts failed to medal in the evening’s fourth race.

Normal service was resumed soon after however with Canada completing their second podium sweep. Nicholas Turbide secured his second title in as many days with an Americas record as he led home teammates Devin Gotell and Tyler Mrak in the men’s 100m backstroke S13.

In the evening’s seventh race, Katrina Roxon won silver in the women’s 400m freestyle S9.

Zack McAllister then lowered the Americas record by 0.06 seconds to win the men’s 50m freestyle S8 and was joined on the podium by teammate and bronze medallist Christopher Sergeant.

For Bird it was a busy evening. No sooner had she finished singing “O Canada” on the podium after winning the first race of the night, she was back in the water starting in the session’s penultimate race, the women’s 50m freestyle S8.

It turned out to be the most exciting race of the evening with just 0.05 seconds separating the three medallists. Bird took gold for a second time and instantly paid tribute to the home crowd:

“The crowd helped me a lot today. Their energy was overwhelming and their support certainly got me to the wall first."

Canada took their 15th medal, a bronze in the 4x50m freestyle relay 20pts, to complete a day that will long be remembered in Canadian sporting history.

Super Sunday helped set the platform for Canada’s best ever performance at a Parapan American Games.

After finishing eighth at the 2011 edition, Team Canada won a record 168 medals to finish second in the medals table behind Rio 2016 hosts Brazil.

To find out more about the IPC’s Top 50 Moments of 2015, visit the dedicated page on the IPC’s website.