Advertisement

Canada's Danielle Dorris dominates 50m butterfly to successfully defend Paralympic title

Canada's Danielle Dorris, seen above earlier in Paris, reached the podium in the women's S7 50-metre butterfly on Saturday at the Paralympics. (Dave Holland/Canadian Paralympic Committee/Handout/The Canadian Press - image credit)
Canada's Danielle Dorris, seen above earlier in Paris, reached the podium in the women's S7 50-metre butterfly on Saturday at the Paralympics. (Dave Holland/Canadian Paralympic Committee/Handout/The Canadian Press - image credit)

Danielle Dorris has done it again.

The Canadian swimmer won gold in the women's S7 50-metre butterfly on Saturday at the Paris Paralympics, successfully defending her title from three years ago at the Tokyo Games.

Dorris, who also holds the world record in the event, touched the wall in 32.66 seconds. American Mallory Weggemann took silver in 34.94 seconds, while Italy's Giulia Terzi rounded out the podium in 35.40 seconds.

Canada's Tess Routliffe narrowly missed her third medal of these Games, finished fourth at 36.38 seconds.

Dorris, the 21-year-old from Moncton, N.B., was fastest out of the blocks and never looked back, flirting with her own world-record pace for much of the race before fading some late.

Still, it was more than enough for the Canadian to claim her second career Paralympic title and third medal. She also owns a silver from the 100m backstroke in Tokyo.

Routliffe, meanwhile, looked poised to join Dorris on the podium for about 30 metres. But the 25-year-old from Caledon, Ont., was caught and passed by Italy's Giulia Terzi, who has never failed to win a medal in any individual race, in the closing stretch.

Also Saturday, Canada's Shelby Newkirk claimed bronze in the women's S6 100m backstroke.

China's Yuyan Jiang touched first in a world-record time of 1:19:44, followed by Ellie Marks of the United States, who finished in 1:20:34.

Newkirk, 28, was third-fastest overall in qualifying (1:24.72). She placed second in her heat behind Tokyo gold medallist and world-record holder Ellie Marks of the United States.