Olympian and Pan Am Games silver medalist Dominique Bouchard announced today that she has retired.
Her facebook page today says, "From water wings to Olympic swimmer to everything in between. Today, I have officially become a #swammer.
"Retiring from the sport did not come as an easy decision, but with everything that has happened in 2017, I think my mind and body were trying to tell me to slow down. Suffering my first injury and being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis within a few months of each other was quite difficult to accept," stated the former North Bay Titans swimmer.
"However today I can say I have a clean bill of health as I start the new chapter of my story. There are too many people to thank and I worry I might forget someone so to everyone who has ever supported me throughout this crazy swimming career of mine, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I would have never been able to do it without you all!!! I wish best of luck to all my former teammates and hope our paths cross in the future! Peace, love , Grandma OUT!!!"
The Candian Olympic Team official website says of her, "Dominique Bouchard had a breakthrough international season in 2015. She won silver in the 200m backstroke behind teammate Hilary Caldwell at the Pan Am Games, where she also won a pair of relay medals. She then made her FINA World Championship debut, advancing to the final of the 200m backstroke and 4x100m medley relay.
"Bouchard competed at her first senior national championships at age 13, making her realize that she had the potential to achieve her Olympic dream.
"She gained invaluable multi-sport competition experience at the 2011 Universiade where she advanced to the finals of the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 4x100m medley relay. Bouchard first competed with the national team at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships. She returned to the quadrennial event in 2014, finishing fifth in the 100m backstroke and sixth in the 200m backstroke. Bouchard’s collegiate career took her to the University of Missouri where she finished as the Tigers’ most decorated swimmer ever with four All-America first team honours and twice placed second in the 200m backstroke at the NCAA Championships."
