This past week provided me with life experiences that I will forever be grateful for. I swam to the best of my current ability and successfully walked away with 3 silver medals, 2 bronze medals, and 4 Canadian Records from the 15th FINA World Masters Championships.
I watched some incredible swims from all different age categories and met swimming legends, Olympic competitors, World and Olympic Medallists, and amazing people from many different countries. I reunited with old friends, made new ones, and shared this experience with my current friends and family.
Writing this blog has been a difficult task. There were so many facets to the week in Montreal that I would like to cover but wasn't sure how to begin. The people, the city, the racing, the many lessons learned, where do I start? So I will do a short series on Montreal and start with a review of my racing.
Before going to Worlds, I felt like I was going to have a panic attack. My anxiety over whom I would be competing against was becoming a bit overwhelming. I managed to keep it in check and followed the advice, for the most part, of my coaches. The advice being, "don't worry about what the others are doing in their lane and just swim your own race." Often easier said than done.
Day One- The 100m Freestyle was a great way to start the meet, no pressure on myself to win a medal in that event. It was purely to get the jitters out! Erika Braun and Claudia Poll finished 1,2 and I squeaked in a surprise 3rd! I had reached my goal on day ONE. I would be coming home with a top 3 finish. However reaching the goal on day one just pushed me to make new goals! Now I wanted to come home with more medals!
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| 400m IM World Champion Lisa Blackburn Bermuda, Silver Sheila Treleaven, CAN Bronze Valeria Vergani, Italy |
Day Two - The 400 IM. The first time I had swum that event, Long Course, in the past 16 years. I was very nervous...and it was very painful. Bermuda, and former Canadian swimmer, Lisa Blackburn won and I pulled in for silver. Now that I had raced all of the women I'd been so nervous about competing against, before Worlds, I felt much better about where I could place in my next 3 races. Perhaps a gold would be in the cards.
Day Three -The 200m IM brought a bronze, with only 0.5 seconds separating Champion Lisa Blackburn, silver medallist, Claudia Poll, and myself. Two hours later a silver medal, behind Champion Erika Braun in the 100m Butterfly, 0.5 seconds separating the touch. Check out my races from Worlds. Women's 40-44 100m Butterfly Women's 40-44 100m Freestyle
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| 200m Butterfly World Champion Nicola Latty, GBR Silver Sheila Treleaven, CAN Bronze Carmelle Guidi, CAN |
Day 5- The last day of my swimming. The 200m Butterfly was on the schedule. This was also my last chance for a Gold. The first 100 metres was perfect, long, easy, good pace, leading by 2 seconds. What else could a girl ask for? The 3rd 50 metres, I tried to pick up my speed, which was an error on my part, I tightened up. When I hit the wall to start the last 50 metres and saw Great Britain's Nicola Latty not far behind, I knew I was done. I had watched her race throughout the week and knew she could finish very well! My shoulder's tightened up and I was just working to make it to the end. Nicola won with an amazing last 50 metres, I was second, and fellow Canadian Carmelle Guidi came in for a strong bronze.
I did NOT get a Gold. I DID reach and surpass my original goals set for this competition. I am very proud of my results. I could not have raced a more competitive and accomplished group of women anywhere else, and I wouldn't trade this experience for any other.
Next Up- My People Experience.
Awesome swims, Sheila.
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