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After an Olympic career going from underdog to record holder, the hardest thing for LaSalle’s Kylie Masse is keeping her expectations in check – and deciding how much longer she’ll stay in the game.
The backstroke specialist and swimming powerhouse made history this summer by becoming the first Canadian swimmer to win an individual medal in three consecutive Olympic games.
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But despite winning bronze in the 200m backstroke in Paris, she can’t help lamenting just missing the podium in two other events, as she wonders if this might have been her last Olympics.
“I think that’s just what comes with being in the sport for eight years on that stage,” Masse, 28, told the Star this week after returning to her hometown for some downtime. “The expectations I have, it mostly comes from myself internally because I know what I want to do. I know the work that I’ve put in and I have a high standard and expectations for myself. It’s definitely about managing that now at this level.”
Masse, then 20 years old, first won bronze in the 100m backstroke at Rio 2016.
In Tokyo in 2021, she took silver in the 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke, setting a new Canadian record for the latter. She also stepped onto the podium with a bronze in the 4×100 Medley Relay.
Her bronze in the 200m backstroke at the Paris Olympics was her fifth medal overall. It was also her third consecutive podium appearance for an individual achievement, marking a Canadian milestone.
“That’s something I’m really proud of and something I’m so happy to have achieved,” said Masse, who started swimming competitively at age 10.
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“It’s just so thrilling and makes me feel so rewarded to have achieved that, to know that the work I have done has paid off, and I’ve been able to kind of etch my name in history like that.”
Massie didn’t initially shine in her junior years. She ranked 201st in the 2014 global rankings. But just two years later, at age 20, she was in Rio de Janeiro winning her first Olympic medal for Canada.
“It was a dream to just make it to the Olympic team for Canada,” said Masse. “That was kind of like a ‘holy crap’ kind of moment for me and everyone in my life.”
“I was kind of the underdog. I just kept things so light because it was already a dream to make the team. I think genuinely what contributed to my success there was that I was so light and free and happy to be there that I didn’t have any pressure or expectations on myself to perform.”
Along with her five Olympic medals, Masse has since also earned the title of three-time World Aquatics champion, three-time Commonwealth Games gold medal winner, and the 2018 Pan Pacific champion in the 100 metre backstroke
In 2017, she made history by becoming the first Canadian woman to win a world title in swimming, taking a gold in the 100m backstroke at the World Aquatics Championships and setting a world record in the process.
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Masse defended that title in 2019, making her the first Canadian swimmer to win back-to-back gold medals in the same event.
After all that, it’s a little harder to keep things light and free.
“I have often reminded myself of the Kylie in 2016 because I know it benefitted me so much to just be swimming free, to be enjoying what I’m doing, and enjoying the people around me,” said Masse, who moved to Spain in 2022 for training. “The more I’ve got caught up in being super analytical and hyper-fixated on things, I think it has been more of a detriment to my performance than it has been a benefit.”
There were some frustrations in Paris.
Masse placed fourth in the 4 x100 medley relay and the solo 100m backstroke, where she finished just .31 seconds short of a medal.
“I was definitely disappointed after the 100-back,” she said. “Going into these games, I felt like my 100 was in a good spot. I just felt really good. I was feeling more like myself in the water. I had higher expectations for executing things well in Paris. But to be able to refocus and reset for the 200, and kind of redeem myself and get on the podium in that race was something that I’m really proud of.”
It would also be a nice capstone to end an impressive Olympic career. Maybe.
“I’m definitely not ruling it out,” said Masse.
“It’s been back-to-back-to-back for a number of years. I’m excited to take a little bit of a break and really think about what I want to do and where that’s going to be. I’ve been in Europe for the last two years leading into these games. So I haven’t been home much and haven’t seen family and friends much.
“I’m just looking forward right now to taking some time and spending it with those closest to me, and really thinking about my next steps.”
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