KAMLOOPS – It was another day of strong results for
Matthew Gauthier who finished his time at the 2022 U SPORTS Swimming Championship in Laval, QC on Saturday afternoon.
COMPLETE RESULTS
Just the second swimmer in program history to qualify for the national championship, Gauthier earned a fourth-place finish in the 'B' Final of the 50-metre breaststroke and placed 42nd in the 100-metre freestyle.
"I started this season with no U SPORTS qualifying times and for me to be able to achieve two standard times and represent the WolfPack in Quebec was enough in itself," said Gauthier.
In total Gauthier racked up a ninth-place finish in the 100-metre breaststroke, a 12th-place finish in the 50-metre breaststroke, came 37th in the 50-metre butterfly and 42nd in the 100-metre freestyle.
"Winning the 'B' Final in the 100-metre breaststroke with a personal best time was my highlight of the year," said Gauthier.
A breaststroke specialist, Gauthier set WolfPack history earlier in the year when he finished fourth in the 50-metre breaststroke at the Canada West Championships, the best individual result and member of the 'Pack has achieved at the conference event. Today however, Gauthier just narrowly missed out on making it to the 'A' Final in Laval.
"The 50-metre breaststroke is so technical and close, hundredths of a second could have gotten me into the 'A' Final, but I am also pleased with how I swam in that race," said Gauthier.
Overall the positive results from this weekend puts a wonderful cap on an outstanding WolfPack career for Gauthier who raised the bar of what a swimmer competing for TRU can accomplish.
"Matt is graduating from the geography department after this year and we wish Matt all the best of luck as he pursues his Master's at the University of Calgary next year," said WolfPack head coach
Brad Dalke.
"I can say for myself and all the other swimmers at this competition that it was a very quick year with U SPORTS records being broken in many events and personal best times being achieved by many swimmers," said Gauthier. "Overall it was very exciting to participate and watch all the other athletes compete."
The season isn't over for Gauthier however, as the product of Sylvan Lake, AB as achieved four standard times to swim at the Canada Swimming Trials that will be held April 5-10 in Victoria, BC.
DAY 1 RESULTS
Matthew Gauthier – 100m Breaststroke: 9th (1:00.54)
DAY 2 RESULTS
Matthew Gauthier – 50m Butterfly: 37th (25.41)
DAY 3 RESULTS
Matthew Gauthier – 50m Breaststroke: 12th (28.38)
Matthew Gauthier – 100m Freestyle: 42nd (51.61)
