Masse basking in bronze after making history at her third Olympic games
Masse swam to a third place finish in the women’s 200-metre backstroke final on Friday
Kylie Masse says she's filled with pride after landing on the podium in her third Olympic games.
"This sport is very demanding and it just … feels really amazing," Masse, the 28-year-old swimmer from LaSalle, Ont., told CBC Windsor.
Masse swam to a third-place finish in the women's 200-metre backstroke final on Friday in Paris — making her the first Canadian swimmer to win an individual Olympic medal in three consecutive Games.
"To really be on the podium here was my goal," says Masse. "But it's also such a dream to … know that I've kind of etched my name in history."
Before Masse, Tom Ponting was part of the Canadian Olympic 4x100m relay teams when they won silver in 1984 and 1988, and bronze in Barcelona 1992 — though Ponting only competed in the preliminary heats in the Barcelona games.
Masse also competed in the 100m backstroke and 4x100m team medley in Paris, but just missed the podium with fourth-place finishes in both events. She finished just 0.31 seconds shy of a medal in the 100m solo event — a race Masse expected would be a tough competition.
"I knew it was gonna take me putting up a best time or … really, really, really close to my best time in order to get on the podium," says Masse of her finish in the 100m backstroke.
"I was definitely a little bit disappointed. I think I was hoping for a little bit more in that race. … But I gave it my best shot and I left it all in the pool there."
Masse says the fourth-place finish in the relay also "stings" a bit, but she's ultimately "really proud of all the girls at the end of a long, long week, physically and mentally and emotionally."
The Olympian also says she's proud of Canada's performance in swimming events in Paris as a whole.
"I think we've seen growth and depth in our country over the last number of years," Masse told reporters at a press conference after her bronze medal finish. "I think it's a testament to just the culture and the program that has been created over the last number of years with the swimmers and the coaches and support staff."
Three unique Olympic experiences
Masse won bronze in the 100m backstroke in her first Olympic games Rio in 2016. She took silver in the 100m and 200m backstroke events in Tokyo in 2021, as well as bronze in the women's 4x100m team medley that year.
"I feel like the three games that I've been to have been unique in their own way," Masse says.
With Rio being her first Olympics, Masse recalls being completely shocked by the experience. "[I was] wide-eyed and I was so overwhelmed and naive about everything."
Then, the Tokyo Olympics were postponed from 2020 to 2021 and fans weren't allowed to attend events in-person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting an entirely different set of circumstances for that games.
"It's been actually really, really nice and refreshing to have a more normal Olympic Games," says Masse. "It's nice to be recognized for what we do and to just take a minute and really appreciate and enjoy these moments."
Masse isn't sure what her plans for 2028 are yet — it's simply too far away to tell, she says, and she's focused on soaking up her moment in the spotlight.
"I really am just finishing this chapter of the Olympics as of last night. So I'm just kind of soaking in these moments and I'm going to reflect on that over the next couple weeks."
With Olympic swimming events now finished at the Paris games, Masse says her "vacation" time is just beginning — which she'll use to explore the city and cheer on Team Canada.
"We've seen the great performances from the rest of Team Canada and there's still a whole nother second-half of the Olympics to go. I can't wait to … be their number one cheerleader" says Masse.
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