Canadian swimming star Maggie Mac Neil rejuvenated after prioritizing mental health
Olympic champion wins gold in 100-metre fly at national swimming trials in Toronto
Olympic champion Maggie Mac Neil has her swagger back.
A year ago she was at one of the lowest points of her swimming career. Speaking exclusively to CBC Sports last April she talked about her post-Olympic struggles.
Mac Neil cited anxiety and pressure to succeed as something that had been pushing down on her and making it difficult to compete.
But on Wednesday night at the Pan Am Sports Centre on the second evening of this year's national trials, Mac Neil put forth a strong win in the 100-metre fly — the same event she captured Olympic gold in Tokyo — stopping the clock in a time of 56.54 to top the podium.
"It's completely opposite from where I was a year ago. I love my training. My school is going great. Everything's just falling into place. I'm just super happy with where I am and can't wait to swim fast this week," she said.
WATCH | Mac Neil overcomes struggles, feeling refreshed:
It couldn't be a more different situation for Mac Neil at trials this year compared to what was unfolding at trials last year in Victoria, B.C.
"I always thought I was invincible. I was completely normal and fine in high school and most of college. But I think this year was a little more difficult for me," Mac Neil explained last April.
"I've come across some post-Olympic struggles and it's been really challenging. That was a really big challenge for me. I realize everyone goes through struggles and it's OK to have those struggles."
Maggie Mac Neil is for the kids 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/mags_swims26?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mags_swims26</a> makes this kid's night by giving him her 100m butterfly gold medal 😮🥇 <a href="https://t.co/GBhDWRo6nl">pic.twitter.com/GBhDWRo6nl</a>
—@CBCOlympicsShe talked to the coaching staff on Swimming Canada about sitting out individual events at last summer's world championships to give herself some space to prioritize mental health.
The move allowed Mac Neil some breathing room to focus on life outside of the pool — what it did was allow her to come back refreshed and rejuvenated.
At the world championships last July, despite skipping out on the individual events, Mac Neil helped Canada to two relay medals.
She then went to the Commonwealth Games where she got back to her winning ways in the 100m fly, winning gold. She won five medals at the Games.
This past December, Mac Neil was better than ever, winning three gold medals and three bronze medals at the short course world championships.
She was named female swimmer of the championship.
"This has been one of the most fun years in my swimming career," Mac Neil said.
WATCH | Mac Neil wins 50m freestyle national title:
If there is a blueprint on how an athlete should handle their mental health, taking the time they need to recover mentally and physically, Mac Neil has found it.
"I think I made the right decision. It was such a long season and for us to succeed in the relays and then to come back and win gold at the Commonwealth Games and then cap it off with two world records in December was amazing," Mac Neil said.
She transferred to Louisiana State University this past year and earlier this month became the NCAA champion with a record time in the 50-yard freestyle. She won silver in the 100-yard fly and bronze in the 100-yard freestyle.
Mac Neil is already starting to look ahead to the next Olympics where she hopes to defend her 100m fly gold medal.
"Paris is always on the horizon," she said.
"Defending the Olympic gold is definitely on my mind. I'm trying not to think about it too much because we have worlds this summer."
More than anything Mac Neil is happy to be back with her Canadian teammates in a pool she has very fond memories of. It's where the team trained ahead of the Tokyo Games, leading to her Olympic championship.
"I love this pool. It's great we have spectators. I have a lot of great memories here," she said.
"I'm so grateful to be able to represent Canada and show the rest of the world what we can do in not just swimming but all sports."
WATCH | Mac Neil sets world record in 100m butterfly at short course worlds:
Liendo, Acevedo break own national records
The second evening of the trials also saw Josh Liendo and Javier Acevedo lower their national records.
Liendo of Markham, Ont., clocked 50.78 in the 100 fly in the morning heats before knocking that time down to 50.36 in the final.
The 20-year-old claimed bronze in the event at the 2022 world championship and will race it again this summer in Fukuoka, Japan.
"I did not expect that time in prelims. I mean, prelims was more about me focusing on my technique,' Liendo said.
"Tonight was about getting fast, about me just going out fast so that's what I did. Hurt a little on the way in, on the way back, but that's swimming."
Liendo and Mac Neil's winning times were the fastest in the world so far this year.
WATCH | Liendo breaks Canadian record in 100m butterfly for 2nd time in Toronto:
Runner-up Ilya Kharun of Montreal at 51.45 had the fastest time of his career. The 18-year-old will make his world championship debut in Japan.
Toronto's Acevedo delivered a dominant performance in the men's 50 backstroke, leading the entire way before touching in 24.90.
The 25-year-old broke his record of 24.97 from last year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
"It feels good. It's great," said the two-time Olympian, who also won the 100 backstroke at trials.
"Now, just take it day by day. I got a day off tomorrow and then the 100 free. This sets me up for the rest of the week and the next couple of months."
WATCH | Acevedo sets new Canadian record in 50m backstroke:
Reigning women's 50-metre backstroke champion Kylie Masse of Lasalle, Ont., touched the wall in 27.41 seconds, just ahead of Calgary's Ingrid Wilm for gold. The backstroke rivals qualified for worlds on opening day when Wilm upset Masse in the 100 metres.
"I just wanted to come in and have a good race," said Masse, who is an Olympic silver medallist in the 100. "Yesterday clearly wasn't my best and that's just all I had yesterday, and I have to take what I can from that and move forward.
"Ingrid's an incredible swimmer, and it's been great to watch her improve over the last number of years. I'm really happy for her."
Other winners Wednesday were 17-year-old Emma Finlin of Edmonton in the women's 1,500 freestyle and Eric Brown of Pointe-Claire, Que., in the men's 800 free.
Both will make their world championship debuts in the pool after racing open water last year in Budapest.
WATCH | Day 2 finals of the Canadian swimming trials:
Five-time Paralympic champion Aurélie Rivard of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., took the women's 400 freestyle multi-class to qualify for this summer's world championships in Manchester, England.
It was Rivard's first time racing the event since winning gold and setting a world record in Tokyo's Paralympics.
"I've only been back to full-time training since January, so I didn't really have a specific goal in mind," Rivard said. "I wanted to go a better time than the morning and focus on the technical aspects of my race.
"I'm just happy to see where I'm at and I think I can perform even better in August."
Nick Bennett of Parksville, B.C., won the men's 200 free multi-class in 1:56.38, which gave him a berth on the world Para squad.
Multi-class winners who didn't reach the qualifying time for Manchester were Philippe Vachon of Blainville, Que., in the men's 400 free, Nikita Ens of Meadow Lake, Sask., in the women's 50-metre backstroke and Angela Marina of Cambridge, Ont., in the women's 200 freestyle.
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With files from CBC Sports and The Canadian Press
