Undergrad Isaac Bouckley’s silver streak at the Parapan Am Games
A "truly special and enthralling atmosphere": Isaac Bouckley (left) with Benoît Huot and Alexander Elliot at the 2015 Parapan Am Games. | Photos courtesy of the Canadian Paralympic Committee
Swimmer Isaac Bouckley knew he had a good chance of finishing among the top three positions in at least one event at the Parapan Am Games, which took place in Toronto this month, from August 7 to 15.
What he didn’t expect was to end up with two silver medals.
“I was confident of winning one medal, as the 400 freestyle is my best event,” the John Molson School of Business student said from his family home in Port Hope, Ontario. “The other one, in the 100 breaststroke, came as a surprise upset.”
On Tuesday, August 11, Bouckley finished second in the 400-metre freestyle, behind Canadian teammate Benoît Huot from Longueuil, who set a new Parapan Am Games record time of 4:10.04. Two days earlier, the national team also swept the podium in the 100-metre breaststroke, with Bouckley finishing just 1.06 seconds behind Quebecer James Leroux, with a time of 1:12.57.
That first medal came as a shock, Bouckley said. “I don't train for it specifically and I was up against some really tough competition. I swam a personal best time.”
The Concordia economics undergrad competes in the S10 category of swimmers at the Paralympics and Parapan Am Games. He was born with a club foot that was surgically repaired, but he sustained muscle damage.
No stranger to large international meets, Bouckley also traveled to London for the 2012 Paralympic Games. He reached the finals in both the 400-metre freestyle and the 200-metre individual medley.
“London was a bigger, slightly more competitive games,” he says. “But because it was at home, the Pan Ams was a truly special and enthralling atmosphere.”
With next summer’s 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on the horizon, the 21-year-old is preparing for what will likely be his hardest year of training yet. “It will be very tough to make the team. I believe I can not only attend, but also be very competitive in Rio.”
If he does make it, Bouckley is determined to add some hardware to his trophy cabinet. “I intend to race for podium positions,” he says. “Likely bronzes and silvers. Golds seem out of reach at the moment, but nothing is impossible.”
While balancing schoolwork and competitive swimming can be tough, Bouckley says he’s well aware that his career in the pool can’t last forever, and that he needs an exit plan.
“I hope to work in finance or economic analysis. I’m a few years away from being done my degree, as I can only take a few courses per year, but I would like to work at a bank or an accounting firm.”
Bouckley’s advice for others who aim to balance intensive sports training and competition with academics? “Talk to your professors immediately. Tell them in September that you are a student athlete and tell them when you might be away. The earlier they know, the more understanding they will be.”
Read about a Concordia student’s gold-medal performance at the 2015 Pan Am Games.