Christina Lake’s own James Dergousoff has come away with a medal from the 2015 Pan Am Games this week.
The 18-year-old was part of the Canadian men’s 4X100 metre relay team that won bronze for finishing third at the games on Saturday.
Canada finished with a time of 3:34.40, 1.72 seconds behind the winners from Brazil. The United States finished with silver.
Dergousoff, who swam with the Grand Forks Piranhas swim club growing up, also competed at the Pan Am Games in both the 100 metre and 200 metre breaststroke, finishing 11th in both.
In the 100m, he finished fifth in heat 2 with a time of 1:03.28, 3.44 behind heat winner Franca Da Silva of Brazil. He then finished third in final B with a time of 1:02.57.
Dergousoff had very similar results in the 200m, finishing fourth in heat 3 with a time of 2:16.30, 4.24 seconds behind heat winner Simon Thiago of Brazil. He then finished third in final B with 2:15.31.
Dergousoff’s parents, Theresa and Ted, were both in attendance at the pool in Toronto cheering on their son.
“Overall the experience in Toronto was unbelievable,” said Theresa Dergousoff. “It was so much fun to be in the stands watching the swimming events. Every time a Canadian was on the blocks the crowd went crazy.”
Theresa said she and her husband were nervous watching James get up on the starting blocks. “As parents we have sat in the stands and watched his races since he was six years old,” she said. “We are always proud of him no matter what.”
Theresa said she thought her son did very well, particularly considering he was one of the youngest and least experienced members of Team Canada.
Theresa said they were able to talk to James after all his races. “He told us he was enjoying the experience and was learning a lot,” she said. “He really enjoyed being part of the team.”
