Aurélie Rivard claims bronze for Canada's 5th medal at Para Pan Pacific Swimming Championships

Canada's Aurélie Rivard swam to a bronze medal on Day 2 of the Para Pan Pacific Championships in Walnut, Calif., on Saturday.

The 13-time Paralympic medallist placed third in the women's 400-metre freestyle final, which included athletes from the S6-11 and S13 classifications. Rivard is a three-time Paralympic champion in the S10 400 free.

The 30-year-old from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., amassed 933 points after touching the wall second in four minutes 37.04 seconds.

Australia's Lakeisha Patterson, S9, captured gold with 986 points after clocking 4:40.35, taking the top spot from S10 American Ali Truwit, who touched the wall first in 4:31.52 but only earned 971 points.

Points are awarded based on how close a swimmer’s time is to the designated world record standard for their specific class. In other words, the closer the time is to the relevant record, the higher the points.

Rivard claims bronze medal at 2026 Para Pan Pacific Swimming Championships

Rivard recently returned to international competition after a year away.

"It's been the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows with this race, but it's my favourite," Rivard told CBC Sports' Devin Heroux after reaching the podium. "I think it's still the race that I'm the best at, and I still think I have something to show and something to prove to myself; I think I can still do something better than I already did."

In other Canadian results, Nicholas Bennett of Parksville, B.C., finished fourth in the men's 100m breaststroke SB4-6, 8-9, 11, 13-14 final, which saw 2020 Paralympic champion Naohide Yamaguchi of Japan set a world record with a time of 1:02.38.

Canada's Danielle Dorris swims to silver in women's butterfly S5-7 at Para Pan Pacific Championships

Reid