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August 1, 2021 | Alumni

Kylie Masse claims third medal as swimming wraps up at Tokyo Olympic Games

By Jill Clark

Kylie Masse, Sydney Pickrem, Maggie Mac Neil and Penny Oleksiak hold up their bronze medals for relay swimming.

U of T alumna Kylie Masse (BKin 2021), far left, won bronze in the 4x100 medley relay in Tokyo along with her teammates Sydney Pickrem, Maggie Mac Neil and Penny Oleksiak (photo courtesy of Swimming Canada/Ian MacNicol)

Recent University of Toronto graduate Kylie Masse (BKin 2021) helped Canada win bronze in the 4x100 medley relay over the weekend, earning her third medal of the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

Masse, who graduated from the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education this year, swam first in the relay and gave Canada the lead after the backstroke leg with a time of 57.90. The Canadian team – which also featured Sydney Pickrem (breaststroke), Maggie Mac Neil (butterfly) and Penny Oleksiak (freestyle) – went on to set a Canadian record in the event with a time of 3:52.60. They finished behind the Australian and the American teams, who took gold and silver. 

“It's so special,” Masse, a former Varsity Blues swimmer from LaSalle, Ont., told CBC when asked about the difference between swimming in individual and relay events. “These girls have been my people, especially this past year through all the challenges with COVID.

“We've been together and by each other's side so I'm really happy to have done this here with them tonight.”

Relay is so special. Through all the challenges with COVID we've been together and by each other's side so I'm really happy to have done this here with them

One day earlier, Masse took silver in the 200-metre backstroke, beating her personal best time and the previous Canadian record, which she held. Last week, she took home a silver in the 100-metre backstroke.

A bronze medal-winner in the 100-metre backstroke at the 2016 Games in Rio, Masse has now climbed the podium four times over two Olympics. 

Byron MacDonald, head coach of the Varsity Blues swim team, praised Masse's performance in Tokyo. 

“The word ‘incredible’ really doesn't seem to do justice to what Kylie has accomplished today and over the past six years,” he said in an email from Japan, where he's working as a CBC swimming commentator.

“Elite sports is about performance on demand and Kylie has always done that. She is so humble and gracious with her success. She is a true champion of sport.”

Watch the race:



 

Gabe Mastromatteo, who is heading into his second season with the Varsity Blues this fall, helped Canada to a seventh-place finish in the men's 4x100 medley relay. The second-year Rotman commerce student also helped Canada's 4x100 medley relay team to a 13th-place finish, and placed 38th overall in the men's 100-metre backstroke in Tokyo.



Recent U of T transfer Ruslan Gaziev also represented the Blues in Tokyo. The incoming University of Toronto Mississauga student was a member of Canada's fourth-place 4x100-metre freestyle relay team.
 
Varsity Blues assistant head coach Linda Kiefer (BPHE 1983, BEd 1984) wrapped up her fifth Olympic Games as a Team Canada coach, while U of T head coach Byron MacDonald finished yet another Games as a CBC commentator for swimming.

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