Kylie Masse: The calm but steady current of Canada's swim team

I’ve never been shy to share that Kylie Masse is a friend of mine. So yes, in theory, most things I say about her would likely be heard with some bias, but do you blame me?

Every time she races, I’m immediately taken back to the 2016 Rio Olympics. I still see the girl who was thrilled to be at the Olympic Games. At 20 years old, Kylie was soaking up every moment on her first national team. With the help of the infectious “we-can-do-this” attitude of that 2016 squad, she had the race of her career (up until that point) and reached the Olympic podium in the 100-metre backstroke. She rose from 201st in the world to third in less than two years, a feat few can say they’ve achieved. 

it rained, and it poured, but we marched! <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Rio2016?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rio2016</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ClosingCeremony?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClosingCeremony</a> <a href="https://x.com/TeamCanada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TeamCanada</a> <a href="https://t.co/cu8bQidUWE">pic.twitter.com/cu8bQidUWE</a>

The pressure built into the next season; now the swimming world knew who she was. And the 100-metre backstroke world record mark was within reach. At the 2017 world championships, many watched as Kylie surged to the first female Canadian swimming world title in history, breaking the world record in the process. 

But I couldn’t help notice the deep breath she took touching the wall. A sense of relief. She managed the expectation and bravely executed a swim she knew she was capable of. 

It looked similar to the deep breath I saw many years later, when the medley relay team won bronze at the 2023 world championships. Pure emotion in the mixed zone as she stood hand in hand with her