Canadian swimmer Oleksiak wins bronze at world short course championships
WINDSOR, Ont. — Teenage sensation Penny Oleksiak may be one of Canada’s most decorated Olympians.
But this week’s FINA world short-course swimming championships are a week-long tutorial for the 16-year-old from Toronto, who stepped up on the starting blocks Thursday night as a virtual rookie among elders.
And moments after she raced to a bronze medal in the 100-metre freestyle, the same event in which she roared to gold and into Canada’s collective heart in Rio, she lamented the couple of small strategic mistakes she made.
“The last (25-metre) leg was pretty tough just because everything was numb,” Oleksiak said. “I just put everything I could into it, and I should have taken out one breath, maybe two. But I guess I’ll learn for next time.”