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Rivard aiming for ‘highest podium step’ at Toronto 2015
Having won her first world titles at July’s IPC Swimming World Championships, Canada’s Aurelie Rivard is aiming to impress at home at the Parapan American Games. 06 Aug 2015
Canada's Aurelie Rivard competes in the 200m individual medley at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships
“My coach spotted me in the pool and said ‘you have potential’ so this is how she got me into competition and to the Paralympics as well."
Canadian Aurelie Rivard has designs on the very top of the podium at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games from Friday (7 August), the perfect way to mark her Games debut at home.
Fresh from her success at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain, where she won her first world titles, the 19-year-old only has one thing on her mind: “Gold medals and I’m going to try as much as possible to be faster than here [Glasgow]. Hopefully you will see me on the podium several times, on the highest step of the podium."
Rivard made her Paralympic debut at London 2012, winning the silver medal in the 400m freestyle at just 16.
Two years ago on her World Championships debut, once again at home in Montreal in 2013, Rivard medalled five times. However she left without any golds.
After putting another two seasons under her belt, Rivard left Glasgow 2015 with titles in both the 50m and 400m freestyle S10 as well as placing second in the 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle.
Rivard has been swimming her whole life but a chance encounter whilst working towards her childhood dream led her to compete: "I took lessons when I was a kid. I was 11-years-old when I wanted to become a lifeguard but I was too young so I started swimming just for fun.
“My coach spotted me in the pool and said ‘you have potential’ so this is how she got me into competition and to the Paralympics as well."
Looking forward to Toronto 2015, Rivard is throwing herself into as many races as possible with the aim of propelling herself further into the public eye. "I have seven [individual] events; I’m swimming every event and both of the relays."
Rivard will be hoping to make a splash from 8 August, when swimming competitions get underway.
Live coverage of swimming at Toronto 2015 will be available on IPC Swimming’s website and tickets are also still available.
