Canadian Paralympian Nathan Stein wins S10 100-metre freestyle

GATINEAU, Que. – Nathan Stein won the S10 100-metre freestyle in 54.42 seconds during Sunday’s final day of competition at the 2016 Can Am para-swimming championships.

Despite winning the event, Stein is focused on making some minor tweaks in the race which he hopes will result in a podium finish at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“We’re still trying new things, but that was the most comfortable I’ve felt in this race in the past four years,” said the 24-year-old from Maple Ridge, B.C.

Stein won a silver medal in the 50 freestyle at the 2012 London Paralympics and was a bronze medallist in the 100 freestyle at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships.

He wants to add to his medal collection this summer.

“We’ll know in two months if the preparation worked or not,” said Stein.

Benoit Huot capped off the meet with a win in the men’s S10 200 individual medley. The veteran swimmer from Longueuil, Que., beat Paralympic team teammates Alexander Elliot and Isaac Bouckley. Huot’s time of two minutes, 18.15 seconds was his fastest in-season time since 2012.

“My last two races before Rio were good swims, so that’s encouraging,” said Huot, who will be competing at his fifth Paralympics this summer.

He also won the 400 freestyle on Friday.

Elliott, of Kitchener, Ont., was timed in 2:20.03 while Bouckley, of Port Hope, Ont., was third in 2:29.58.

For the 22 swimmers heading to this summer’s Paralympics, the Can Am para-swimming championships was their last sanctioned competition prior to Rio.