Olympic Swimmers Van Landeghem & Bouchard Announce Retirement

Swimming Canada has announced the retirements of Chantal Van Landeghem and Dominique Bouchard who represented Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The two swimmers put on a great show in Rio and helped bring laurels to the Canadian swimming team. Both Van Landeghem and Bouchard decided to call it a day while they were still in their prime and admitted that they will miss the sport.

Van Landeghem has had an outstanding career and played a major role in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay at Rio, helping Canada win a bronze medal after 40 years. The Canadian women’s team also went on to set a national record in the process – memories that Van Landeghem will fondly remember for the rest of her life.

She first represented Canada in 2011 and got better with every passing year. She won two medals at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto for the 100m freestyle swim and the 4 x 100m freestyle relay which she anchored. Van Landeghem set new Canadian and Pan Am records in both events. Her career has been marked with a number of accomplishments and its always hard to single out on specific event or moment.

The Canadian Press

In a statement, Van Landeghem said

Obviously, the Olympics were a huge highlight. But just racing is probably the aspect of swimming I'll miss most. I just loved that feeling of adrenaline behind the blocks. The opportunity to represent my country on the highest stage for me was probably one of the greatest honours of all

Bouchard who is from Ontario was part of the Canadian women’s swimming team that was recognized as the 2016 Canadian Press Team of the Year. She made it to the semi-finals of the 100m and 200m backstroke events at Rio and also won a silver medal for the 200m backstroke event at the 2015 Pan American Games.

She had her best year in 2015 and was hoping to use that momentum at the 2016 Olympics but things did not work out for her and she finished the 200m backstroke in 9th place. Bouchard was not selected for the national team in 2017 and injury problems further hampered her resolve to compete at the highest level.

Bouchard was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and also had back issues. She walks away with her head held high, knowing that she gave everything she had and believes that her performances have inspired Northern Ontario kids.

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