Vernon’s Alexanne Lepage has made a splash at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Netanya, Israel. The 17-year-old swimmer won two gold medals and one silver medal in the breaststroke events and the medley relay. She also set a personal best time and became the fifth-fastest Canadian woman of all time in the 100-metre breaststroke.
Lepage, who is a member of the Vernon Kokanee Swim Club, competed against some of the best junior swimmers in the world. She faced a tough challenge from Estonia’s Eneli Jefimova, who held the championship record in the 100-metre breaststroke. Lepage came from behind in the final 50 metres to touch the wall first, beating Jefimova by just 0.26 seconds. Her time of 1:06.58 was only 0.35 seconds shy of the record.
In the 200-metre breaststroke, Lepage showed her dominance again, winning her second gold medal with a time of 2:24.70. She led from start to finish, leaving her rivals behind by more than two seconds. She also helped Canada win a silver medal in the 4×100 medley relay, swimming the breaststroke leg in a fast split of 1:06.76.
Lepage’s coach and family proud of her achievements
Lepage’s coach, Renate Terpstra, was thrilled with her performance at the world championships. She said that Lepage has been working hard to improve her technique and endurance, and that she has a great attitude and work ethic.
“Alexanne is a very talented swimmer, but she also puts in a lot of effort and dedication to her training. She is always eager to learn and improve, and she listens to feedback and applies it. She is also very humble and respectful of her competitors and teammates,” Terpstra said.
Lepage’s family was also overjoyed by her success. Her mother, Alison, said that she was overwhelmed by her daughter’s achievements, and that she was proud of how far she has come.
“It’s just fantastic, she’s seen such a phenomenal improvement. She has always loved swimming since she was a little girl, and she has been pursuing her dream with passion and determination. She has also balanced her swimming with her academics, as she wants to study engineering at the University of Calgary next year,” Alison said.
Lepage contributes to Canada’s medal haul
Lepage was not the only Canadian swimmer who shone at the world championships. Canada finished third in the medal standings, with two golds, three silvers, and eight bronzes. Some of the other medalists include Summer McIntosh, who won silver in the 400-metre freestyle and bronze in the 200-metre freestyle; Joshua Liendo, who won silver in the 50-metre butterfly and bronze in the 100-metre butterfly; and Cole Pratt, who won bronze in the 200-metre backstroke.
The world championships were held from Sept. 5 to Sept. 9, featuring more than 600 swimmers from 80 countries. The event was a showcase of the future stars of swimming, as well as a preparation for the next Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
