21-year-old London swimmer Maggie Mac Neil won Canada’s first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics, in the women’s 100-metre butterfly. A 55.59-second swim earned Mac Neil the gold, finishing just 0.05 of a second ahead of China’s Zhang Yufei.
Maggie Mac Neil wins Canada’s first gold medal at #Tokyo2020 in the 100-metre butterfly event on Day 3, but didn't know it right away because she wasn't wearing her glasses
Here's The Breakdown with @vivekmjacob pic.twitter.com/p83gAWdjbi
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) July 26, 2021
Her time broke not only the American and Canadian previous records in the event, but her time stands as the third-best in Olympic history! What makes this win even more amazing is while training back home amidst the pandemic, Mac Neil was forced to use her family’s backyard pool in order to continue practicing.
The former London Aquatic Club (LAC) alumnus can now add this gold to the women’s 4×100m freestyle silver medal she won just 24-hours earlier.
Londoners took to social media after the win to celebrate and Mac Neil says she cant wait to come back and join them.
“I haven’t really celebrated yet, I mean, I don’t think I’ll celebrate until I get home to my family and friends.”
Adding that the support back home “means the world” to her.
GOLD! Congratulations @mags_swims26!#LdnOnt is so proud of you! #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/MgQfF4DHii
— Tourism London (@tourism_london) July 26, 2021
Congratulations to #LdnOnt’s very own Maggie Mac Neil, who is now an Olympic champion in the 100-metre butterfly, giving @TeamCanada its first gold medal of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.#Tokyo2020 #TeamCanada https://t.co/qqWDwq5ALR
— City of London (@CityofLdnOnt) July 26, 2021
Maggie Mac Neil couldn't believe she won gold
: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports pic.twitter.com/fTGGeVg8eE
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) July 26, 2021
One of the people in this photo is an Olympic Gold Medalist. #ldnont pic.twitter.com/TilzoarOwi
— Craig Needles (@NeedlesOnNews) July 26, 2021
Maggie Mac Neil set a Canadian record at her first Olympics with 55.59 seconds in 100m butterfly pic.twitter.com/WUEOSHCdHr
— Complex Canada (@complexcanada) July 26, 2021
Congratulations to Maggie Mac Neil on capturing the women's 100-metre butterfly in a Canadian record of 55.59 seconds on Monday morning in Tokyo! You make us Proud to be Canadian, Maggie! pic.twitter.com/R7VAis7Af4
— Proud to be Canadian (@PTBCanadian) July 26, 2021
Next up from the women’s swim team is Kylie Masse of LaSalle, Ont. who will swim the 100-metre backstroke final tonight. She’s the reigning world champion in the distance. Mac Neil says that the women’s swim team is staying strong in Tokyo and that their more confident than ever!
Good morning!
@mags_swims26 #MGoTokyo #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/C5SvOQaLKZ
— Michigan Swimming & Diving (@umichswimdive) July 26, 2021
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