Nicholas Bennett shed 害羞草研究所渆verything害羞草研究所� tears during O Canada at the Paralympic Games pool Monday.

The 20-year-old swimmer from Parksville, B.C., won Canada害羞草研究所檚 first gold medal of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris with his victory in the 100-metre breaststroke.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a mix of everything,害羞草研究所� Bennett said after the medal ceremony at La Defense Arena.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the joy of being able to compete against the best athletes in the world and be the best out of them. Also the relief of finally showing the world I害羞草研究所檓 here and one of them, one of the best.害羞草研究所�

Bennett is the first Canadian man to win a Paralympic gold medal in swimming since Benoit Huot in 2012 in London.

害羞草研究所淗eavy,害羞草研究所� was Bennett害羞草研究所檚 assessment of his prize. 害羞草研究所淢an, it害羞草研究所檚 a beautiful piece of history with me.害羞草研究所�

He stood atop the podium two nights after taking silver in the 200-metre freestyle.

Bennett is the reigning world champion and holds the world record in the 200-metre individual medley, which he害羞草研究所檒l race Wednesday.

The Canadian was the only man in Monday害羞草研究所檚 breaststroke final to swim under one minute four seconds in a time of 1:03.98.

Jake Michel of Australia took silver in 1:04.27. Naohide Yamaguchi of Japan was the bronze medallist in 1:04.94.

Yamaguchi had beaten Bennett for the breaststroke world title last year in Manchester, England.

害羞草研究所淚 was just more confident. We害羞草研究所檝e been working my breaststroke every day for the last year,害羞草研究所� Bennett said. 害羞草研究所淏reaststroke is such a finicky race for myself.

害羞草研究所淚 just had to hold on and race Yamaguchi. That was the only thing that mattered at that moment.害羞草研究所�

When asked how it felt to beat world-record holder Yamaguchi, Bennett shook with emotion and needed a moment to compose himself.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 having a hard time speaking right now. It was surprising to say the least,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 saw him in my peripherals and I just had to hunker down the last few metres.害羞草研究所�

Bennett, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of three, races in the S14 classification for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

His older sister Haley Bennett-Osborne, who has been his full-time coach since 2022, watched from the arena seats as her brother executed the work they害羞草研究所檇 done to improve his breaststroke.

害羞草研究所淩ight now, I害羞草研究所檓 tired, but during it was I was so excited I could barely watch,害羞草研究所� Bennett-Osborne said.

害羞草研究所淗e really clinched on the last 25 (metres). That害羞草研究所檚 what we害羞草研究所檝e been working on the last year because that害羞草研究所檚 where we thought he could improve on from Manchester when he got silver.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淏reaststroke is such a technical stroke, we thought it was really important to dial in how he was going to feel in that moment when there害羞草研究所檚 lots of excitement, and its really emotional and he害羞草研究所檚 super-tired, super-fatigued. Technique was everything that 25 metres.害羞草研究所�

The siblings relocated from Vancouver Island to Red Deer, Alta., last year when Bennett-Osborne got a job coaching the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club at the Michener Recreation Centre.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think we have the typical sibling dynamic,害羞草研究所� Bennett said.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 always been quite responsible for her age and an amazing human being to say the least. It害羞草研究所檚 just chemistry I guess. She害羞草研究所檚 probably the only person I trust fully to get me to this point.害羞草研究所�

Osborne-Bennett, 24, echoed that trust is the key to the siblings making their coach-athlete relationship work.

害羞草研究所淓specially with his designation, it害羞草研究所檚 really important to have someone that understands his specific behaviours and training mentality,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚 just think I know him really well, so it害羞草研究所檚 easier for me.害羞草研究所�

Canadians have won five medals in the pool in Paris. Swimming continues until Saturday.

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