Canadian Maggie MacNeil wins record gold in the 100m butterfly at the World Cup in Toronto CBC sport

Dozens of kids leaned over the gallery railings at Toronto’s Pan Am Sports Center, shouting at their swimming heroes and begging for autographs.

“Maggie!” “Kylie!” “Penny!” “Summer!” “Sydney!”

The chorus of whistling young voices was loudest as Maggie Mac Neil of London, Ontario, won the women’s 100-meter butterfly in 54.78 seconds on Sunday to set a World Cup record and break her own Canadian record.

The reigning Olympic champion and short course world champion ended the weekend with 58.5 points, also the overall winner.

It was Mac Neil’s third win of the competition after topping the podium in Friday’s 50m backstroke and Saturday’s 50m butterfly.

“It makes me so proud,” said 22-year-old Mac Neil on the pool deck when kids called her. “I’m still getting used to my role, but I hope I make everyone proud.

“It means so much to have her support and it was great to see her cheering in the crowd this weekend.”

CLOCK | Mac Neil captures 100m butterfly gold:

Sweden’s Louise Hansson (55.02) and Brazil’s Giovanna Tomanik Diamante (57.41) completed the podium in the women’s 100m butterfly.

Katerine Savard (57.68) of Pont-Rouge, Que., finished fourth.

Canada finished the World Cup with five golds, nine silvers and seven bronzes, behind only the United States.

America’s Beata Nelson (2:00.50) took gold in the women’s 200m backstroke, with the Canadians taking the next three places.

Kylie Masse of LaSalle, Ontario took the silver in 2:02.21, Summer McIntosh of Toronto (2:02.85) took the bronze, and Ingrid Wilm of Calgary just missed the podium in 2:02.94.

Masse is now fourth in the women’s standings. She hopes the event will inspire young children to pursue their dreams and see what they can achieve while swimming.

“I think that’s the ultimate goal,” said Masse after autographing swim caps, flutter boards, flags and even winter coats. “It would be amazing to see how swimming in Canada is like hockey or football or like baseball or basketball.

“I think that’s something we’re all hoping for and hoping we can make a difference in this sport and leave a legacy for swimming to become more popular in Canada.”

Nelson also won gold in the women’s 200m individual medley in 2:05.08 and finished second in the women’s overall standings over the weekend with 58.3 points. Sydney Pickrem of Halifax was second in 2:05.23 and McIntosh got her second medal of the day in 2:06.57.

Bailey Andison of Smiths Falls, Ontario was fourth, Winnipeg’s Kelsey Wog was fifth, Ashley McMillan of Penticton, BC was sixth, Ella Jansen of Burlington, Ontario was seventh and Mary-Sophie Harvey of Laval, Que. was eighth.

Pickrem trained at the east Toronto facility for nearly 18 months during the worst days of the pandemic. She said it’s exciting to finally compete in front of Canadian fans and show just how much Swimming Canada’s program has accomplished over the past four years.

“I find it amazing that Canada is seeing this level of competition,” she said after signing autographs. “Knowing that Canada is in it and we have been for the past few years and it’s just really cool to bring it home for them.”

Other notable results from Canada included Toronto’s Javier Acevedo, who placed fourth in the men’s 100-meter backstroke, Josh Liendo of Markham, Ontario, placed sixth in the men’s 50-meter butterfly, Sophie Angus, seventh in the 50-meter breaststroke in the women’s 100m freestyle, and Mac Neil swimming fifth in the women’s 100m freestyle.

Indianapolis will host the next World Cup stop from November 3rd to 5th.

CLOCK | FINA Swimming World Cup in Toronto – Day 3 Evening Session:

FINA Swimming World Cup 2022 Toronto: Day 3 Evening Session

Watch the evening action from Day 3 of the 2022 FINA Swimming World Cup from Toronto.