Kylie Masse dives into swimming spotlight in hometown championship

mercredi 7 décembre 2016

​About 15 minutes, that's the amount of time Kylie Masse has spent with her parents during this week's world championships. It's also the same distance from the family home Masse grew up in to the swimming venue.

"We were able to give her a care pack of things she needed and that's about it," said Louie Masse, Kylie's father.

"We don't really talk swimming with her," said her mother, Cindy. "There's so much else going on. School. Life. We just don't talk to her about this because it would add more pressure."

In the span of six months Kylie Masse has gone from an unknown name in Canada to one of this country's most talked about swimmers. Now she's front and centre in the city she learned how to swim. The LaSalle, Ont. native is on event posters throughout the WFCU Centre.

"When I was growing up here something I always looked forward to was seeing older swimmers and being inspired by them," said Masse. "I hope to be that for kids here now."

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Kylie Masse spoke about competing so close to home at the FINA World Short Course Swimming Championship in Windsor, Ont., on Wednesday. (Devin Heroux/CBC Sports)

On Wednesday night in Windsor Masse delighted her family and fans by capturing a silver medal in the 100-metre women's backstroke. Her mom, dad, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all wore "Team Kylie" shirts and watched anxiously as she swam her way to second place.

"I was probably more nervous here than I was in Rio just because we really didn't have much expectation over there," said Louie. "The light has been on her for a little while now. I was a little anxious."

'You just have to be you' 

Cindy said the way everything has fallen into place since Rio is almost storybook and at times a little overwhelming.

"It's a little uncomfortable," said Cindy. "We just felt like it was almost too much. She's just our daughter. She's like the girl next door. She's like any other 20-year-old."

For younger brother Daniel it's all a little surreal.

"I'm proud of her and glad she's accomplished her dreams," he said. "Since August until now I've been asked about her a lot."

Kylie's grandfather and grandmother were beaming with pride after her silver medal performance.

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Kylie Masse's family members wore "Team Kylie" shirts in support of the 20-year-old hometown swimmer. (Devin Heroux/CBC Sports)

"Held her in my arms. She's maturing very well and handles herself quite well," said Noel Thomas, with tears in his eyes.

Her grandmother, as excited as she was, still remained grounded.

"She's just great. But you can't get ahead of yourself. And you can't get a big head about it. So you just have to be you," said Carol Thomas.

Kylie's Coach thrilled with performance

Racing down into the lower level of the WFCU Centre to meet Masse after her silver medal race, coach Byron MacDonald was grinning ear-to-ear.

"She responded brilliantly to the pressure," he said.

"I think the big thing for Kylie is that she was under a phenomenal amount of pressure. Her picture is all over this place, all over the city. So that's a lot of pressure to put on a woman is new to international competition."

MacDonald is quick to point out that Masse didn't even make the national team for the Pan Am Games in Toronto. In the 2014 world swimming rankings she was ranked 201st overall.

"I think the upside for Kylie is tremendous. You have to remember she's new to this. Anything can happen right now. She has not hit her limit yet," said MacDonald.

Masse has two more events left to swim in Windsor to leave her mark on the community she grew up in. Her family and friends will be right by her side until the last stroke in the pool.

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Kylie Masse dives into swimming spotlight in hometown championship

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