Sarah Mehain, an Arts & Science student at McGill, won bronze in the 50-metre butterfly at the 2015 International Paralympic Committee world swimming championships in Glasgow.
She also competed at for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London and reached the final in four of her six events. She placed sixth in the 50-metre butterfly and seventh in three other events, namely the 50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and 200m individual medley. Her time in the breaststroke was a Canadian record and she bettered her personal best IM time by six seconds.
Mehain has a congenital condition called hemiplegia. It results in one side of her body being weaker than the other, and not as coordinated. Her community involvement includes Seaton Rotary, an organization which fundraises for War Child Canada and also assists with environmental work around the community.
She comes from an athletic family. Her older sister, Heather Mehain, is a competitive cross-country skier who raced at the world junior trials in 2011 and was in contention for a spot on the 2014 Olympic team.
A younger sister, Hannah Mehain, skis and swims and competed at the 2012 B.C. Winter Games.
Her mother, Mae Hooper, is also competitive in cross-country skiing and earned silver at the 2011 Masters World Cup.
Sarah Mehain started swimming at age 5 because her parents wanted their children to be good swimmers and benefit from the health advantages of the sport. She also likes swimming for the social elements and the fact that it makes her strong.
- Mehain won four medals at the 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games: gold in the 50-m butterfly, and silver in the 50-m freestyle, 100-m freestyle, and 100-m backstroke.
- She won bronze medals in the 50-m butterfly at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. She also finished 4th in the 200-m IM and 5th in 100-m breaststroke, 100-m backstroke and 50-m freestyle.
- At the 2015 Speedo Can Am Para-swimming Championships Mehain reached the podium in five events. She was second in the 50-metre butterfly and 100-m backstroke and third in the 200-m individual medley, 50-m and 100-m freestyle.
- Mehain was Canada’s busiest swimmer at the 2013 IPC World Championships in Montreal, competing in six individual events. The highlight was a bronze medal, her first major international podium finish,in the 100-m backstroke. She set four personal bests including a Canadian record in the 100-m breaststroke.
- Mehain continued her progress on the international stage in 2014 as a member of Team Canada at the 2014 Pan Pacific Para-swimming Championships in Pasadena, Calif. She won a bronze medal in the 100-m breaststroke and was fourth in the 50-m freestyle, 50-m butterfly, 200-m individual medley and 100-m backstroke.
- Mehain enjoyed a successful first Paralympic Games in London in 2012. She reached the final in four of her six events placing sixth in the 50-m butterfly and seventh in the 50-m freestyle, 100-m breaststroke and 200-m individual medley.
- Mehain has cerebral palsy and is hemiplegic. It has left one side of her body weaker than the other, and not as coordinated.
- Studying sustainability sciences at McGill University.
QUICK FACTS
Interests/Hobbies:
Riding my horse, swimming, skiing, reading, playing my violin and french horn, highland dancing, bike riding, getting the highest marks in school.
Pre-competition/Warm-up Routines/Superstitions:
Eating wholesome food well before training, proper hydration by drinking lots of water, getting proper rest, stretching prior to swimming, proper warm-up once in the water
Who is your role model/who has had the greatest impact on you (coach, family, teacher, etc)?:
My mom, dad and Coach Bruce.
Personal Coach/Mentor Name (and why?)
Renata Terpsma who is my present coach and Bruce Melton who was my former coach because they are really good coaches and they really care for me.
Personal Best:
Swimming, doing school work, riding my horse and other things I do to the very best of my ability.
Athletic/Academic/Artistic Awards Achievements:
Qualified for 2008 Beijing Olympic Trials in Montreal; received 2008 Kokanee Swim Club Award for Team Spirit, Attitude, Effort, Attendance and Leadership; Top Student and Leader in my school class.
List the languages that you speak fluently:
English and French
Goals in Sport/Art:
Compete in the Olympics, become a really good violin player and highland dance in Scotland.
Goals in these Games:
To achieve the best times in all my events.
Do you have any family members participating in these Games/in past Games or other national/international events ?
My Sister, Heather, is a competitive Cross Country Ski racer. In 2008 she ranked 2nd nationally and has participated in the B.C. Winter Games. My Mom wins regional X-C ski Loppets. My Dad used to Downhill Ski race.
Do you have any family members that are professional athletes, artist, or coach? Name, function, team or discipline or other pertinent information.
My Mom has been the Head Coach of a Junior Cross-Country Ski racing team and she has coached soccer.
