Pressure of hometown fuels double gold for Canadian water skier

Two golds in two events. It doesn’t get any better than that.

On Wednesday, Whitney McClintock won gold in the women’s overall competition. On Thursday, in front a few hundred patrons on the shores of Lake Ontario, she claimed gold in the slalom - in fact, a record 65th gold medal for Canada at the Pan Am Games. And, the Cambridge, Ont., athlete was tickled pink about her results.

“Yesterday was such a roller-coaster. I was able to go to sleep really early last night. Had a good sleep. Felt awesome today. Came out here to get some more gold medals,” she said. “I’m two for two gold medals. That’s pretty awesome.”

The previous Canadian record of 64 gold medals was set in Winnipeg in 1999. McClintock paid homage to her water skiing rival, Regina Jaquess, whom she beat twice in two days for the gold medals at the Ontario water course.

“Once Regina came up a little short of what she’s capable of made me much more confident with my plan going out,” said the 25-year-old. “I didn’t put the pressure on myself that round to do anything in particular. I just wanted to go ski strong.”

A month before the start of the Pan Ams, McClintock admitted she started to feel the pressure that accompanies competing in a hometown Games. She trained at the water course. She was one of the torch bearers who carried the flame. She grew up 45 minutes from the water-skiing venue. Once the Games got started, Canada started raking in bags of gold medals which, she said, contributed to some pre-event nerves.

“This is home. This is as close to home as I’ll ever, ever, compete in my life,” she said. “Having family and friends and seeing so many gold medals coming in from Canada, it did put some pressure on. But at the same time it fuelled me, too.”

Almost every day at the Games, McClintock has spent large chunks of time at Canada House - a gathering place for Canadian athletes, their families and friends - with the medal winners and getting motivated by their feats, records and personal achievements. She even watched Andre De Grasse win gold on Wednesday night.

“Watching Canada win gold is so inspiring,” she said. “To be surrounded by the athletes that are so talented - the support has really turned all the pressure into excitement.”