Dominique holds up one of her silver medals while holding a Pachi doll, the 2015 Pan Am Games mascot doll which was given to all medal winning athletes as a prize instead of flowers. PHOTO COURTESY YVAN BOUCHARD.
Dominique Bouchard’s Pan Am Games experience is complete but it’s something she certainly won’t ever forget.
The former North Bay Y Titans swimmer won a pair of silver medals at the Pan Am games, one in the 200 M backstroke last Wednesday, the other with Team Canada in the 4 x 100 M Medley Relay on Saturday night.
“It was a great experience,” said Bouchard in an email to BayToday.ca
“It is one I will treasure forever. The facilities are great, the fans were the best and it provided me with not only great international experience but also the experience of a multi sports games which is very important going into an Olympic year.”
While the silver’s were impressive, there was still some disappointment. Bouchard finished without a medal in the 100 M backstroke final (4th place finish), and gold was what she really set out for in that event and the 200 M.
“I can’t say I was very happy with the times that I swam, but I did reach my goal of making the podium,” she admitted.
“So it is kind of a bitter sweet feeling.”
There’s not much time to rest for the former University of Missouri swimmer. Up next is the World Championships which take place in Russia at the end of July.
“The Pan Am games provided me with great international experience which will translate well into worlds,” said Bouchard.
“Also this meet gave me the chance to see where I am at in my training and help me figure out a plan going into worlds so that I can be faster and reach my goal of making top 8 in the world,” added Bouchard who came into the Pan Am Games ranked 10th in the 200 M backstroke and 13th in the 100 M backstroke.
A young 13-year-old Dominique Bouchard poses for a photo at the YMCA Pool in North Bay back in 2004. FILE PHOTO.
Swimming exposure
Bouchard hopes her rise up the world rankings and a potential spot on the Canadian Olympic team next year will give more confidence for swimmers and other athletes from the area.
“I hope that my success impacts all athletes in North Bay and Northern Ontario and shows them that even if you are from a small town, you can still make it to the big leagues, whether that be to qualify for provincials or the Pan Am Games, success is defined differently by everyone but its the hard work and dedication that will help you achieve attainable goals,” she said.
North Bay Y Titans Head Coach Samantha Crossley believes Dominique’s performance in the pool will show that competitive swimming can lead to something special.
“Hopefully Dominique’s performance at the pan-ams will encourage all young athletes with a love of water to come out and give competitive swimming a try,” said Crossley about Bouchard’s success.
“I also hope that it will be great encouragement and motivation for our current swimmers going into the upcoming swim season."
North Bay is home to a pair of competitive swim teams including the Titans and the CT-33 Thunderbirds who swim out of the pool at CFB North Bay.
“Dominique is an inspiration to all swimmers, especially Titan swimmers both past and present. She is proof that hard work and determination can allow you to reach any goal you set. It was great to see so much support from the community and the local media for Dom during the games as well.”
