Katie Cosgriffe kicked off the last night of the Para Pan Pacific Swimming Championships with a remarkable performance, clinching Canada’s first gold medal of the event. The 20-year-old athlete from Burlington, Ontario, secured victory in the women’s multi-class 100-meter backstroke final, setting a new season record of 1:08.1.
In an interview with CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux following her win, Cosgriffe shared her approach, stating, “I had faith in my ability to win, but I entered the race without any specific expectations, focusing solely on executing my race strategy.” She expressed her satisfaction with her performance, emphasizing her concentration on the race plan rather than checking the scoreboard.
This triumph marks Cosgriffe’s inaugural international gold medal achievement. As an S10 swimmer, she previously won a bronze medal in the 100m butterfly event at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Cosgriffe sees the Para Pan Pacific Swimming Championships as a vital stepping stone towards her aspirations for the upcoming Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Reflecting on her race, Cosgriffe acknowledged that she aimed for a faster time than her final result of 1:08.1, mentioning her desire to break the 1:08 mark. Despite falling short of that target, she expressed contentment with her season-best performance, highlighting the challenges she faced throughout the long season and finding solace in ending it on a high note with a gold medal.