Canadian Paraswimmer Tess Routliffe Talks Rio Silver, Changing Perceptions

Canadian Paraswimmer Tess Routliffe Talks Rio Silver, Changing Perceptions

Bridget Blood, a swimmer for the university of alabama, interviews Canadian paralympian Tess Routliffe about misconceptions of para-athletics and what it was like competing at the Paralympic Games in Rio this past summer.

May 31, 2017 by Bridget Blood
Canadian Paraswimmer Tess Routliffe Talks Rio Silver, Changing Perceptions
We all have our favorite athletes -- the ones who we look up to, the ones we root for, and the ones who inspire us to work harder. The swimming world has never failed to generate some of the best role models. There were so many athletes who shaped my swimming career as I grew up. In college, I was fortunate to meet ​Tess Routliffe through her older sister, Erin: a friend and member of the tennis team at Alabama. It was not hard to become one of Tess' biggest fans (behind her ever loyal big sisters, of course). Tess is an unbelievably hard worker and fierce competitor; both of these are evident when you watch her race.

 
Tess is a Canadian Paralympian and multiple time gold medalist from the 2015 Parapan American Games. She swam to a second place finish in the 200m IM at the IPC World Championships in 2015 as well.

After a breakthrough year in 2015, she went on to compete in Rio at the Paralympics at the age of 18. There, she was a finalist in nearly all of her events including a top second place finish in the 200m IM (video above).
 
I had the opportunity to chat with Tess to discuss how she got into the sport, her favorite things about it, and what she wished more people understood about para-athletics.
 
FloSwimming: How did you get into swimming?
 
Tess Routliffe: As a kid with two very athletic sisters, I was brought up playing different sports -- which I loved. I tried lots of sports, but in Grade 9, swimming was the one that stuck
 
When was there a separation for you between swimming and para-swimming?

It started pretty early [in my career] for me. I had only joined a club to have a hobby and get fit, and as I was much slower than my able-bodied teammates I never thought about it as competitive. It was only when my coach introduced a swim meet in the U.S. which was designated for U.S. and Canadian swimmers. That meet was the first time I had realized I could make something out of this. It was an opportunity to compete on the same level as other people.
 
What class are you in?
 
My classification is S7,SM7,SB7, which means I compete in all disciplines as a 7.
 
What is your training like?
 
I currently train at the High-Performance Center located at the Olympic Center in Montreal. ​Mike Thompson is the head coach, and although I have only worked under in since October 2016, I have had a lot of time to get to know him on past national teams. I currently swim eight times a week, with two days of doubles. Each session is about two hours. On top of that I have four weight sessions per week that usually run for an hour and a half.
 
What is your favorite workout?
 
My favorite type of workout would have to involve getting to race people in practice, to get in the mentality of an actual race. I love going fast and short and racing my teammates.
 
What is your favorite thing about para-swimming?
 
[My favorite aspect is] meeting new people. Swimming has provided me the opportunity to travel to amazing places and has given me opportunities to make friends all around the world. I am for sure a people-person and within this sport I meet new people all the time and am able build such strong relationships with my teammates.
 
Who is your biggest role model or are there any swimmers you look up to?
 
There are many people I can see as my role model, and people who have helped me get to where I am today. Honestly, I find my role models within my teammates who I have watched compete and then developed friendships with them. I also have two older sisters who are some of my biggest role models and biggest supporters.
 
What is one common misconception about para swimming or one thing you think other athletes should know?
 
I believe the biggest misconception about para-swimming, or para-sport in general, is this preconceived idea that it is strictly participative. There is this "myth of participation" and reduces para-sport to a simple leisure and a way to get out of the house. The truth is, high-level para-swimming strives to achieve the same goal as high level able-bodied swimming which is athletic excellence through fierce competition.

There is a paradox when it comes to sport & expectations of folks living with a disability; on the one side, we are athletes who are expected to be superhuman and a "source of inspiration" for everyone through athletic achievements. On the other hand we are also often congratulated for achieving the most mundane tasks such as getting out of our house to go to the pool. Being part of high level para-swimming is demanding. Disabled or not, being dedicated to swimming in order to reach to the highest level possible is a choice of lifestyle that we all make as athletes.
 
And lastly, what is your best swimming memory?
 
The best memory I have of this sport was in Rio. I remember getting to the pool on one of my days off competition and for the first time actually realizing where I was. I was overwhelmed with joy thinking about the chance I was giving to represent Canada with people I love and the support of so many. It had finally hit me that I was competing on the biggest stage in swimming, surrounded by so many amazing athletes, and so much passion for the sport. It was one of my clearest moments of why I love swimming so much, and made it all worth it.

[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKUT_prhQLN/?taken-by=tessroutliffe" hide_caption="0"]
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