Windsor

Town of LaSalle dedicates special day to Olympic swimmer Kylie Masse

The Olympic medal-winning swimmer met with fans at the LaSalle outdoor pool following a parade along Front Road that started at 4 p.m.

Masse recently became the first-ever female Canadian swimmer to win a world title

Gold medallist Kylie Masse poses with the medal won during the women's 100m backstroke final in Budapest, Hungary. It marked Canada's lone world title of the event. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

The Town of LaSalle set aside Friday evening to celebrate world record holder Kylie Masse.

The Olympic medal-winning swimmer met with fans at the LaSalle outdoor pool following a parade along Front Road that started at 4 p.m. 

"It's incredible, honestly, to be here with all these kids," said Masse as she signed autographs for a long line of fans. "That's something I really treasured as a young athlete growing up, is looking up to older Olympians, so I want to be that person."

The free event featured a barbecue and activities for kids and ran until 7 p.m. 

Masse recently became the first-ever female Canadian swimmer to win a world title when she took home the gold at the women's 100-metre backstroke at the FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, breaking the world-record with her time of 58.10 seconds.

Kylie Masse breaks Canadian record in women's 200m backstroke at FINA Worlds

7 years ago
Duration 4:17
Masse qualified in second place for Saturday's women's 200m backstroke final with a Canadian record time of 2:05.97. Australia's Emily Seebohm qualified first in 2:05.81.

The LaSalle swimming sensation also won a bronze medal in the 4x100-metre medley and in the 100-metre backstroke at the Rio Olympics last August.

With her medals on display and the whole town celebrating her accomplishments, Masse said the day is something she'll remember for a long time.

"It's super humbling," she added. "I'm so happy and proud to be Canadian and from LaSalle."