Chris Alexander ends his season on a excessive observe.
The Lethbridge Pronghorns’ fourth-year swimmer captured gold within the 50-meter backstroke with a time of 25.91 seconds, serving to the Horns males end sixth total.
The large win passed off final weekend on the U Sports activities Swimming Championships on the College of Victoria.
“There was quite a lot of stress to get to the ultimate and after I was within the closing I needed to get a great begin, rise up there with the (different swimmers),” Alexander stated.
“I knew if I may stick with them firstly I may win the race, so it was fairly thrilling after I acquired there with them.”
“I have been swimming for a very long time and it isn’t one thing I believed I would ever obtain.”
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It was a giant second for the swimmer, his coach stated.
“Chris has been one of many prime backstrokers in Canada for a couple of years now, however he hasn’t been in a position to break by way of all the best way,” stated Pronghorns swimming head coach Peter Schori.
“He is by no means really gained a Canada West championship. To win a U Sports activities nationwide championship earlier than you win a Canada West championship is a little bit bit distinctive.”
Lethbridge Pronghorns swimmer Chris Alexander stands atop the U Sports activities Swimming Championships podium. Alexander gained gold within the 50m backstroke, lower than 4 years after struggling a severe foot damage.
Courtesy: AP Shutter
It was an extended highway to nationwide gold. In December 2019, Alexander suffered a severe and sophisticated foot damage in a sledding accident.
“I dislocated my entire midfoot, lisfranc fracture, broke quite a lot of bones,” Alexander stated.
“I spent 4 nights within the hospital. It took surgical procedure to place the whole lot again collectively. It was really about 4 months earlier than I may put weight on it.”
After present process a second surgical procedure six months after damage to take away metallic implants from his foot, it took Alexander two years to return to a standard coaching routine.
“Staying with the game by way of these two years was fairly difficult,” Alexander stated.
“It is arduous if you see all of your teammates swimming and issues do not work. My foot did not enable me to do the issues I needed to do.”
Feeling more healthy, Alexander gained a bronze within the 50-meter backstroke finally yr’s championships.
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He spent this previous season bettering his decrease physique energy.
“I placed on about 20 kilos over the summer season, most of it was in my legs,” Alexander stated.
This set the stage for his first place in 2023.
“My begins, a number of the finest in that warmth and my underwater improved tremendously, so a mix of these two was in a position to push me up from third to first,” Alexander stated.
To finish a journey that impressed these round him.
“He principally had his foot rebuilt. Your toes are fairly vital in all sports activities, however in swimming it is like half your propulsion comes out of your kick,” Schori stated.
“By way of overcoming ache and gaining again mobility, energy and confidence as an athlete, he is come an extended strategy to get up to now.”
It is a second Alexander hopes to hold into his closing yr of U Sports activities eligibility subsequent season.
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