Canada is taking home its first gold medal at this year’s summer games in Rio de Janeiro. On Thursday evening, Toronto swimmer and burgeoning star, Penny Oleksiak, tied for first place in the women’s 100m freestyle. The Canadian youngster joined American, Simone Manuel, at the top of the podium. This is the 16 year-old’s fourth medal at this year’s Olympics, which sets a new record for Canadian swimmers in Olympic competition.
The teenager continues to turn heads in Rio, becoming Canada’s youngest Olympic champion ever, a category which includes the winter games. What’s even crazier to note, is that Oleksiak managed to achieve this feat, swimming as far behind as the seventh place position. Her surpassing of fellow competitors left bystanders in awe, as Manuel and Oleksiak both set a new record time of 52.7 seconds.
Penny is also the first Canadian to win Olympic gold for swimming in more than 20 years. The last athlete to do so, was Mark Tewksbury, who won the men’s 100m backstroke in 1992.
We don’t have to wait long until we see Oleksiak in action once again. The swimmer takes on the 4x100 medley relay on Saturday.
