Madison Broad Finishes 16th In 100m Back At Rio Time Trials
Wallaceburg’s 15-year-old pool shark Madison Broad finished in 16th place in the 100-metre backstroke at the Rio Olympic time trails in Scarborough on Wednesday.
The Chatham ‘Y’ Pool Shark shaved nearly half a second off her morning swim in the ‘B’ finals, finishing 6th in the ‘B’ division with times of 1:03.33 and 1:02.93
A strong contingent of local supporters made the trip, deeming themselves ‘The Broad Squad’. Many of them will be back at the pool on Sunday when Maddy swims in the 200-metre backstroke preliminaries.
Pool Shark dad Dave Desmarais made the drive to watch Madison’s pre-lims on Wednesday. Desmarais and company were heading for home, west of Ingersoll when they learned Maddy had made the ‘B’ finals.
“So we turned around and drove two and a half hours back to watch her,” Dave said.
The Broad family and Pool Shark families extend their thanks for the overwhelming support Madison has received from the local community.
Desmarais utilized social media to invite fellow local residents to the pool in Scarborough on Sunday.
“If anyone was debating going to Toronto on Sunday, I say go! Don’t hesitate! (It) was so much fun . There are world class swimmers there, breaking all kinds of records. The energy in the building is unbelievable! Total awesome experience!”