Nicholas Bennett shed 含羞草研究社渆verything含羞草研究社� tears during O Canada at the Paralympic Games pool Monday.

The 20-year-old swimmer from Parksville, B.C., won Canada含羞草研究社檚 first gold medal of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris with his victory in the 100-metre breaststroke.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a mix of everything,含羞草研究社� Bennett said after the medal ceremony at La Defense Arena.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 the joy of being able to compete against the best athletes in the world and be the best out of them. Also the relief of finally showing the world I含羞草研究社檓 here and one of them, one of the best.含羞草研究社�

Bennett is the first Canadian man to win a Paralympic gold medal in swimming since Benoit Huot in 2012 in London.

含羞草研究社淗eavy,含羞草研究社� was Bennett含羞草研究社檚 assessment of his prize. 含羞草研究社淢an, it含羞草研究社檚 a beautiful piece of history with me.含羞草研究社�

He stood atop the podium two nights after taking silver in the 200-metre freestyle.

Bennett is the reigning world champion and holds the world record in the 200-metre individual medley, which he含羞草研究社檒l race Wednesday.

The Canadian was the only man in Monday含羞草研究社檚 breaststroke final to swim under one minute four seconds in a time of 1:03.98.

Jake Michel of Australia took silver in 1:04.27. Naohide Yamaguchi of Japan was the bronze medallist in 1:04.94.

Yamaguchi had beaten Bennett for the breaststroke world title last year in Manchester, England.

含羞草研究社淚 was just more confident. We含羞草研究社檝e been working my breaststroke every day for the last year,含羞草研究社� Bennett said. 含羞草研究社淏reaststroke is such a finicky race for myself.

含羞草研究社淚 just had to hold on and race Yamaguchi. That was the only thing that mattered at that moment.含羞草研究社�

When asked how it felt to beat world-record holder Yamaguchi, Bennett shook with emotion and needed a moment to compose himself.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 having a hard time speaking right now. It was surprising to say the least,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 saw him in my peripherals and I just had to hunker down the last few metres.含羞草研究社�

Bennett, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of three, races in the S14 classification for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

His older sister Haley Bennett-Osborne, who has been his full-time coach since 2022, watched from the arena seats as her brother executed the work they含羞草研究社檇 done to improve his breaststroke.

含羞草研究社淩ight now, I含羞草研究社檓 tired, but during it was I was so excited I could barely watch,含羞草研究社� Bennett-Osborne said.

含羞草研究社淗e really clinched on the last 25 (metres). That含羞草研究社檚 what we含羞草研究社檝e been working on the last year because that含羞草研究社檚 where we thought he could improve on from Manchester when he got silver.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淏reaststroke is such a technical stroke, we thought it was really important to dial in how he was going to feel in that moment when there含羞草研究社檚 lots of excitement, and its really emotional and he含羞草研究社檚 super-tired, super-fatigued. Technique was everything that 25 metres.含羞草研究社�

The siblings relocated from Vancouver Island to Red Deer, Alta., last year when Bennett-Osborne got a job coaching the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club at the Michener Recreation Centre.

含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 think we have the typical sibling dynamic,含羞草研究社� Bennett said.

含羞草研究社淪he含羞草研究社檚 always been quite responsible for her age and an amazing human being to say the least. It含羞草研究社檚 just chemistry I guess. She含羞草研究社檚 probably the only person I trust fully to get me to this point.含羞草研究社�

Osborne-Bennett, 24, echoed that trust is the key to the siblings making their coach-athlete relationship work.

含羞草研究社淓specially with his designation, it含羞草研究社檚 really important to have someone that understands his specific behaviours and training mentality,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淚 just think I know him really well, so it含羞草研究社檚 easier for me.含羞草研究社�

Canadians have won five medals in the pool in Paris. Swimming continues until Saturday.

READ ALSO:

The Canadian Press