Valérie Grand'Maison

Valérie Grand'Maison (born October 12, 1988) is a Canadian former swimmer and Paralympic champion. Over two Summer Paralympic Games she won a total of six medals setting multiple world records in Paralympic swimming.

Valérie Grand'Maison
Personal information
NationalityCanada
Born (1988-10-12) October 12, 1988
Fleurimont (Sherbrooke), Quebec
Height1.64 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in)
Weight64 kg (141 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
Breaststroke
Butterfly
Medley
ClubCAMO Swim Club

Biography

Valérie Grand'Maison started swimming at the age of seven years and started to compete competitively at the age of nine years with the swimming club CAMO of Montréal.[1] Grand'Maison developed a condition that degrades the vision of the eyes called macular degeneration at the age of 12. By the age of 15, she had already lost most of the vision in both her eyes.[2] Pierre Lamy, her swimming coach at the time, suggested that she get classified as an athlete who is handicapped.[3]

At the 2005 Canada Games in Regina she qualified to be part of the Canadian Handicapped Swimming Team. She then participated at the Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne, Australia. In 2006 at the National Swimming Paralympic Championships in South Africa, she won seven medals with five of them being gold. She also established a new record for the 100 Metre free.[4] At the 2008 Summer Paralympics Grand’Maison won six medals, with three of them being gold. One gold was for the 100 Metre Butterfly, another for the 100 Metre Free and the last for the 400 Metre Free. In addition she broke two world records.[5]

In 2010 a right shoulder injury put her career on hold.[6] Grand'Maison changed her swimming schedule to accommodate the injury. She was a member of the McGill University Marlets and trained under the guidance of coach, Peter Carpenter.

In 2011, at the Pan-Pacific Championships in Edmonton, Grand'Maison raced the 200 m individual medley and won the gold medal. She also added three silver medals and one bronze to her collection. Grand'Maison finished second in the 50 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle and 100 m breaststroke. In addition, she won third place in the 100 m butterfly and fifth in the 100 m freestyle.[7]

At the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, Grand'Maison participated in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle, 100 m breakstroke and 200 m individual medley events.[8] She won silver medals in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle (S13) and a gold medal in the 200 m medley, setting a world record.[9][10][11]

Grand'Maison's final international competition was the 2013 IPC Swimming World Championships held in her hometown of Montreal, Canada.

Personal life

Grand'Maison attended McGill University where she completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology and History. Whilst at McGill University, she was coached by Peter Carpenter until her retirement from professional swimming in 2013.

Performance History

Grand'Maison has competed at a number of events around the world including World Championships and Paralympic games. She has held multiple S13 world records.

EventTimeCompetitionCountry
50m Freestyle27.88Beijing Paralympic GamesBeijing, 2008
100m Freestyle58.87Beijing Paralympic GamesBeijing, 2008
200m Freestyle2:09.86German OpenGermany, 2008
400m Freestyle4:28.68Beijing Paralympic GamesBeijing, 2008
800m Freestyle9:34.55German OpenGermany, 2008
5000m Freestyle1.10.36IPC World ChampionshipsMelbourne, 2006
50m Butterfly30.61German OpenGermany, 2008
100m Butterfly1:06.49German OpenGermany, 2008
100m Breaststroke1:22.16London Paralympic GamesLondon, 2012
50m Backstroke33.74Can Am Championships, Victoria, BCCanada, 2008
100m Backstroke1:10.58Paralympic Trials, MontrealCanada, 2008
200 Individual Medley2:27.64London Paralympic GamesLondon, 2012

References
  1. Valérie Grand'Maison Archived May 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Camonatation.org. Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
  2. "Entrevue avec Valérie Grand'Maison, championne paralympique" (in French). Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (Quebec Division). 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  3. Valérie Grand'Maison – Portrait d'athlète 2010 – Défi sportif Archived October 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Defisportif.com. Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
  4. Valérie Grand'Maison, championne internationale – Les Archives de Radio-Canada. Archives.radio-canada.ca. Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
  5. Jeux paralympiques – Valérie Grand'Maison récolte sa troisième médaille d'or. Le Devoir. September 11, 2008.
  6. Valérie Grand’Maison relève les défis pour redevenir une candidate paralympique. Swimming.ca. August 25, 2012.
  7. Pires, José António (August 17, 2011) Valérie Grand’Maison fait le plein de médailles – Divers. Le Plateau. Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
  8. Lorange, Simon-Olivier (August 29, 2012) Valérie Grand'Maison: la revenante | Simon-Olivier Lorange | Sports aquatiques. Lapresse.ca. Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
  9. Grand'Maison en finale du 50 m libre. Rds.ca (September 1, 2012). Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
  10. Sports – nouvelles & résultats | statistiques, vidéos, photos | RDS.ca. Rdsolympiques.ca. Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
  11. Le Canada en argent | ICI.Radio-Canada.ca. Radio-canada.ca. September 2, 2012.
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