MONTREAL - Aurelie Rivard is visiting London not as a tourist, but as a competitor.
The 16-year-old Montrealer is hoping to get on the podium at the upcoming Paralympics, having bagged an invite on the strength of a series of local triumphs, which include six provincial golds and one silver.
Rivard, who hits the pool daily as part of a special sports-study school program, loves that swimming has opened so many exciting doors for her.
“I like pushing myself to the limit and to race and travel around the world, meet friends and stay in shape. It's my passion,” said Paralympic swimmer Aurelie Rivard.
She gives a lot of credit to her twin sister for her success, who trains alongside her.
“I don't want her to beat me so I train really hard,” she said, although she confesses that her sister, “beat me one time.”
Her twin is not too bitter about not keeping up, however, and gives credit to Aurelie’s determination.
“She works very hard all the time and I’m very proud of her,” said Charlotte Rivard.
And both her coach and her father feel that she has what it takes to do well in London at her maiden big international competition.
Her dad credits her with an ability to switch to a higher great.
“She likes to compete and she doesn’t like to lose and when some swimmers are close to her, she swims faster,” said Aurelie’s father Andre Rivard.
And her coach said that great aquatic accomplishments loom.
“She has a little bit of everything that we need to be a good swimmer. She has discipline and she works hard and yes she could be aggressive when she swims a good race,” said coach France Latendresse
And her future is not only bright; it could very possibly be long as well.
“I think she can make three more Paralympics if she wants to because she's the youngest one on the team,” said Latendresse.
