Toronto's Masse wins 100 backstroke silver at FINA World Championships

University of Toronto Varsity Blues swimming sensation Kylie Masse earned the women's 100 backstroke silver medal as Day 2 of the FINA world short course championships wrapped up Wednesday night (Dec. 7) in her hometown of Windsor, Ont.
 
The third-year kinesiology major touched the wall in 56.24 seconds to claim the second-best spot on the world stage.

Masse finished first in Tuesday night's 100 backstroke semifinals in 56.19 seconds, to advance to Wednesday night's final. On Tuesday morning (Dec. 6), Masse qualified for the semifinals with the fastest time after 100 backstroke heats, bettering her own Canadian record (56.55), in a time of 56.02 seconds.
 
Masse opened the Day 2 finals by bettering her own Canadian 50-metre short course backstroke record in the first leg of the 4x50 medley relay. Masse touched the wall in 26.49 and helped Canada to a fourth-place finish in 1:46.00.
 
The team qualified first for the finals after bettering the previous Canadian record set in 2009 (1:50.18) in a time of 1:45.49.

"It was a tremendous swim under phenomenal pressure to perform," said Varsity Blues head coach Byron MacDonald. "Kylie was chosen as the ambassador of these world championships, with her picture plastered all over town and the pool because this is her home town. That's a lot of pressure to live up to and she did it!"

Source: Toronto Varsity Blues