Nicholas Bennett shed 91裸聊视频渆verything91裸聊视频� tears during O Canada at the Paralympic Games pool Monday.

The 20-year-old swimmer from Parksville, B.C., won Canada91裸聊视频檚 first gold medal of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris with his victory in the 100-metre breaststroke.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a mix of everything,91裸聊视频� Bennett said after the medal ceremony at La Defense Arena.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 the joy of being able to compete against the best athletes in the world and be the best out of them. Also the relief of finally showing the world I91裸聊视频檓 here and one of them, one of the best.91裸聊视频�

Bennett is the first Canadian man to win a Paralympic gold medal in swimming since Benoit Huot in 2012 in London.

91裸聊视频淗eavy,91裸聊视频� was Bennett91裸聊视频檚 assessment of his prize. 91裸聊视频淢an, it91裸聊视频檚 a beautiful piece of history with me.91裸聊视频�

He stood atop the podium two nights after taking silver in the 200-metre freestyle.

Bennett is the reigning world champion and holds the world record in the 200-metre individual medley, which he91裸聊视频檒l race Wednesday.

The Canadian was the only man in Monday91裸聊视频檚 breaststroke final to swim under one minute four seconds in a time of 1:03.98.

Jake Michel of Australia took silver in 1:04.27. Naohide Yamaguchi of Japan was the bronze medallist in 1:04.94.

Yamaguchi had beaten Bennett for the breaststroke world title last year in Manchester, England.

91裸聊视频淚 was just more confident. We91裸聊视频檝e been working my breaststroke every day for the last year,91裸聊视频� Bennett said. 91裸聊视频淏reaststroke is such a finicky race for myself.

91裸聊视频淚 just had to hold on and race Yamaguchi. That was the only thing that mattered at that moment.91裸聊视频�

When asked how it felt to beat world-record holder Yamaguchi, Bennett shook with emotion and needed a moment to compose himself.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 having a hard time speaking right now. It was surprising to say the least,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 saw him in my peripherals and I just had to hunker down the last few metres.91裸聊视频�

Bennett, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of three, races in the S14 classification for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

His older sister Haley Bennett-Osborne, who has been his full-time coach since 2022, watched from the arena seats as her brother executed the work they91裸聊视频檇 done to improve his breaststroke.

91裸聊视频淩ight now, I91裸聊视频檓 tired, but during it was I was so excited I could barely watch,91裸聊视频� Bennett-Osborne said.

91裸聊视频淗e really clinched on the last 25 (metres). That91裸聊视频檚 what we91裸聊视频檝e been working on the last year because that91裸聊视频檚 where we thought he could improve on from Manchester when he got silver.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淏reaststroke is such a technical stroke, we thought it was really important to dial in how he was going to feel in that moment when there91裸聊视频檚 lots of excitement, and its really emotional and he91裸聊视频檚 super-tired, super-fatigued. Technique was everything that 25 metres.91裸聊视频�

The siblings relocated from Vancouver Island to Red Deer, Alta., last year when Bennett-Osborne got a job coaching the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club at the Michener Recreation Centre.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think we have the typical sibling dynamic,91裸聊视频� Bennett said.

91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 always been quite responsible for her age and an amazing human being to say the least. It91裸聊视频檚 just chemistry I guess. She91裸聊视频檚 probably the only person I trust fully to get me to this point.91裸聊视频�

Osborne-Bennett, 24, echoed that trust is the key to the siblings making their coach-athlete relationship work.

91裸聊视频淓specially with his designation, it91裸聊视频檚 really important to have someone that understands his specific behaviours and training mentality,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淚 just think I know him really well, so it91裸聊视频檚 easier for me.91裸聊视频�

Canadians have won five medals in the pool in Paris. Swimming continues until Saturday.

READ ALSO:

The Canadian Press