What was your motivation to train for the Rio2016 Paralympics?  

Making the 2016 Team was a huge surprise for me. Being 13 at the time, my goal going into trials was really to learn how to perform at such a high level. My coach and I were really shooting for Tokyo.

What advice would you offer to young girls in New Brunswick about overcoming challenges to pursue their goals and dreams?

Once you have your goal/dream, do everything in your power to achieve your goal and don’t let people tell you to quit.

What obstacles did you encounter related to the pandemic with training or traveling to Tokyo? 

The main obstacle I faced was the closure of pools in NB and the moratorium on competition. I was able to make alternate plans to train in our swim spa but nothing can replace racing against others.

What does it feel like to break a world record, be famous, and make history as an athlete and role model? 

It’s a humbling feeling that I am still learning to deal with. I am most comfortable with young kids and love to engage with them to tell them to chase their dream like I did.

What are your plans for Paris 2024 now that you have competed in two Paralympics and broke your own record to win gold at Tokyo 2020? 

I am moving this fall to Montreal to train at Swimming Canada’s High Performance Centre – Quebec so that I can improve on my time and represent Canada with pride.

With October being Women’s History Month in Canada, who is a particular woman role model, whether an athlete or other influential woman, that you’ve looked to for inspiration? 

Prior to me making Team Canada, my family and I had no real knowledge of Paralympians due low media coverage of Paralympic sport. I was introduced to Summer Mortimer after her London 2012 Games performance and then raced Jessica Long of the US with a goal of one day being faster than her. I looked up to both of them and hoped to one day be as successful as they are.