Dominique Bouchard, coming back strongly over the last 50 metres on Wednesday, earned the Olympic swimming berth that just eluded her grasp four years ago.
The 24-year-old North Bay native cleared the FINA standard to compete in the women's 100-metre backstroke at the 2016 Rio Olympics, clocking 59.96 seconds during the Canadian Olympic & Para-swimming Trials to grab the one of two available Canadian nominations to the Rio 2016 team. Bouchard made a late push to pressure 20-year-old Kylie Masse of Windsor, Ont., who lowered her hours-old national record to 59.06.
At the 2012 Olympic trials, Bouchard was less than a second off qualifying for the Games in both the 100 and 200 backstroke.
“This is my third Olympic trials,” Bouchard told CBC Sports. “In 2008 I wasn't even close to making the final. Last time in 2012 I just barely missed it and this time, I am under a minute, so I am really excited.”
Over the last quadrennial, Bouchard has completed her NCAA career at the University of Missouri and begun work on a masters degree in health-care administration. The Titans Swimming alumna has also matured considerably in the pool. In 2015, she won a Pan Am Games silver medal in her best event, the 200 back, and was also a finalist at that distance at the FINA World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia. Since the worlds, she has been training in Columbia, Mo., as a post-graduate swimmer with Mizzou assistant coach John Pontz.
The daughter of Marise and Yvan Bouchard, who were in the stands on Wednesday at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, served notice she was ready for Trials by earning a silver medal at an Arena Pro Swim Series meet in Orlando in March.
“I have gained a lot of confidence these last 3½ years, more because things have clicked for me within the past year and half,” Bouchard said in a recent interview with BayToday. “It was like: 'I've been in this sport so long; I know what I need, I need to communicate what's best for me to the coaches; I need to start upping my protein intake; I need to start taking my pre-workout [supplements]; I need to take these vitamins; cut back on junk food.
“In some ways, I wish that light bulb had gone off earlier.”
Former Titans teammates like Jennifer Leckie have gone to social media to congratulate North Bay's newest Olympian.
"Sending a big hug to Dominique Bouchard for earning a spot on the 2016 Canadian Olympic team," stated Leckie on Facebook.
"You deserve this girl! I am so proud of you!"
Bouchard's signature swim, the 200 back, is on Sunday at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. She has the second-fastest seeding time alongside Hilary Caldwell, a 2012 Olympian. Sunday's races will be broadcast and streamed by CBC at 3 p.m. ET.
