The 2020 Canadian Olympic Swim Team will feature a local swimming sensation. Kenora’s Gabe Mastromatteo was chosen yesterday to represent his country at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.
He will be a part of the 26 person swim team that will compete for gold starting next month.
Mastromatteo’s mother and coach Janet Hyslop has been with him throughout this year's Canadian Olympic trials and was excited to hear the news.
“Of course it was a long wait to hear the final news, but to be very honest, I feel peaceful and excited all at the same time it's been a long journey that we've both been on and to have this as the final step of our journey together as coach and athlete is pretty cool. I'm celebrating tonight, that's for sure,” said Hyslop
Next for Mastromatteo is he will travel with the team to Vancouver next week and prepare for the final steps at the UBC Aquatic Centre before heading to Tokyo.
Hyslop did note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic the team will arrive at the games just before the start of the aquatic events and athletes will not be able to climatize themselves as much as in Olympics in years past.
After a great showing at the Canadian Olympic swimming trials Mastromatteo has qualified himself to be a part of the Men’s 4x100 Metre Medley Relay, the 4x100 Metre Mixed Medley Relay, and the Men’s 100 Metre Breaststroke as an individual.
Hyslop would like to thank the people at the Kenora Recreation Centre as they played a huge role as they allowed Gabe to continue to swim and train earlier this year. That played a crucial part in his mental health and wellness and his success in making the Canadian Olympic swim team.