Dominique Bouchard made a late push in the 200-metre backstroke as she has so often over her great swimming career, yet it was just not quite enough to advance to the Olympic final in Rio de Janeiro.
In a sport where the margin between elation and heartbreak are determined by fractions of a second, North Bay's Olympian fell just 0.23 seconds of getting the top-eight time that would have ensured a chance to swim for an Olympic medal.
Bouchard, 25, finished in two minutes 9.07 seconds after driving for the wall over the final 80 metres. The time was good for a tie for ninth place, while countrywoman Hilary Caldwell qualified second in 2:07.17 to move on to Friday evening's final.
Jennifer Leckie, a former NCAA swimmer at Bryant University and one of Bouchard’s former North Bay Titans swim teammates went to Instagram to support her friend.
“This girl made her country and the small town of North Bay proud,” Leckie said on Instagram.
“So lucky to have swam by your side for so many years, hold your head up high.”
Moments after the race, Bouchard's Facebook wall filled with supportive comments too.
Cait Olivia, childhood friend: “Major cheers to Dominique B on having two very successful events at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Making the Olympics is successful on its own, but this girl dominated and made semi-finals in both 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke. NEOR [Northeastern Ontario] and Canada are so beyond proud of you!!! Congrats, Dom!! You're a superstar.”
Janelle Jangle, friend: “You had to have a lot of wins to get there in the 1st place. Walk tall with that maple leaf on your chest because you made your family, friends, and country proud.”
Suzanne Auclair Jacques: “Way to go Dominique. What a journey!! What an accomplishment. We are so proud of you. You're our star.”
The result ends the Olympic run for Bouchard, who also finished 12th in women's 100-m backstroke.
The North Bay Titans Swim Club's alumna was a four-time NCAA Division 1 all-American at the University of Missouri, before blossoming after graduation. In 2015, Caldwell and Bouchard had a 1-2 finish at the Toronto Pan Am Games.
Bouchard also finished sixth at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships. Over the Rio cycle, Bouchard balanced making strides as a world-class swimmer with completing a masters degree at the University of Missouri while also completing the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Always aware that she is a role model, especially to Titans swimmers, Bouchard has said tackling the MCAT is part and parcel with the rigours of being a competitive swimmer.
“I could possibly get a great job in health-care administration, which is what I am taking my masters in, but I always wanted to go to medical school,” Bouchard said in a January interview. “With swimming it’s important to have something to fall back on in case of an injury.”
“Taking the MCAT is just one step. It’s something learned from swimming – my drive is always get to that next level, and medical school would be that next level
Canada's team has been having their strongest Olympics in a generation. Caldwell's 200 swim gave the nation its 11th finalist, in addition to four medals.
