RECAP: Casarin’s six gold medals highlights great performances at RSEQ Swimming Championship

Over the weekend, the Gee-Gees swimming teams competed in the RSEQ Championships held in Montréal and turned in a number of incredible performances. As an overall team, the Gee-Gees placed third at the championship, collecting a total of 984.50 points, with the women's team coming in second place and the men's team coming in fourth place. Coming into the weekend, both teams were ranked in the U SPORTS Top 10, with the men's team ranked fourth and the women's team ranked ninth.

Leading the way for the Gee-Gees was Davide Casarin who finished with six gold medals and was named as both the top male swimmer of the RSEQ Championships, finishing with a total of 620.50 points over the weekend, and the RSEQ Male Swimmer of the Year. Casarin placed first in the 100m freestyle (49.81), 200m freestyle (1:47.19), 400m freestyle (3:49.78), and the 1500m freestyle (15:19.79). The Master's student from Mirano, Italy also racked up two more gold medals as he helped the 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle teams finish in first place.

Alongside Casarin on the men's side, was fifth-year Montana Champagne who added a number of great performances to his already highly decorated Gee-Gees swimming career as he finished with a total of six medals as well. Champagne collected gold medals in the 100m butterfly (53.62) and 400m butterfly (4:14.24), while he placed second in the 200m IM (2:00.90), and third in the 200m butterfly (1:50.09). Champagne also swam on the same relay teams as Casarin which finished in first place.

Rounding out the individual medals for the men's side was Aleksandar Plackoski who placed third in the 200m butterfly in a time of 2:03.05, and used his time of 2:02.24 from the qualifying heats to qualify for a place at the upcoming U SPORTS Championships. 

Joining Casarin and Champagne on the 4x100m freestyle team that finished first in a time of 3:22.53 were Stephen Sun and Zachary Pilling, while Connor Beals and Sun raced on the first place 4x200m freestyle team finishing in 7:25.57.

On the women's side Delphine Vandal turned in another weekend of great performances as she raced to a total of five medals. Vandal finished first in the 800m freestyle in a time of 8:45.62, second in the 400m freestyle in 4:13.39, and third in the 200m freestyle in 2:00.23. As well Vandal joined teammates in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relays as they placed third in each.

The Gee-Gees also got second place finishes by Sara Godon in the 50m backstroke (28.90) and 100m backstroke (1:02.99), as well as Lauren Shearer in the 100m breaststroke (1:11.06) and 200m breaststroke (2:33.82).

Adding to the individual medal count for the Gee-Gees was Adelle Yamashita-Ball, who placed third in the women's 800m freestyle in a time of 8:58.37. Yamashita-Ball's finish also qualifies her for the upcoming national championship.

The Gee-Gees women's 4x50m freestyle relay team won a silver medal as Godon, Marine Harzé, Mayheve Rondeau, Renee Saville finished in a time of 1:46.60.

As well the Gee-Gees women's relay teams raced to a pair of third place finishes in the 4x100m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle races. The 4x100m team of Harzé, Vandal, Godon and Rondeau finished in 3:50.70, while Harzé, Yamashita-Ball, Vandal and Alina Juuti raced the 4x200m in a time of 8:29.31.

The Gee-Gees will send a number of representatives to the U SPORTS National Championships taking place February 21-23 at the University of British Columbia. A preview with all of the qualifiers and details will be posted before the championships.