By Jim Morris

GLASGOW, Scotland – There was a peek into the future of Canadian Para-swimming Wednesday at the IPC Swimming World Championships.

James Leroux of Quebec City and Sarah Girard of Montreal made the most of their only event in the competition, both finishing seventh in the S9 100-metre breaststroke. They were part of a group of five teenagers who advanced to the evening finals.

“I badly wanted to get to the final because it’s my only race,” said Girard, 16. “I am really happy right now.”

Girard finished in one minute, 22.71 seconds. That sliced 1.61 off the qualifying time she swam in the morning.

Leroux, 17, was timed in 1:12.63 in the men’s 100-m breast.

It was another frustrating night for Tess Routliffe of Caledon, Ont. The 16-year-old finished fourth in the S7 400-m freestyle in a time of 5:42.67. It was the third four-place finish of the meet for Routliffe.

Nicolas Turbide, 18, of Quebec City was fifth in the men’s S13 backstroke in 1:02.31. Sabrina Duchesne, 14, of Quebec City swam a personal best time of 3:16.32 to finish seventh in the women’s S8 200-m individual medley.

While none of the young swimmers collected a medal they all earned valuable experience.

Craig McCord, the Para-swimming national coach, said the seeds planted this week will grow at next year’s Paralympics in Rio de Janerio, then hopefully produce a harvest of medals in 2020 in Tokyo.

“I would say all these kids have been identified as our next generation,” said McCord.

“A top-eight in the world here gives them the experience they need when they get to Rio and get to the podium in 2020.”

Of the five only Turbide swam at a pervious world championships. All have attended fast-track training camps which receive funding from Own the Podium.

“It’s allowing us to progress these athletes forward at a little bit faster pace than they would normally get in their own programs,” said McCord.

Leroux said his learning curve at the world championships was both mental and physical.

“I learned how to handle the stress and be more focused on my race,” he said.

Duchesne said the calibre of competition made her realise what she needs to work on during training.

“The races are more difficult because the competition is more,” she said.

Turbide said racing at the 2013 world championships in Montreal laid a foundation he continues to build on.

“You learn every time you have a meet,” he said. “If (things) go bad you can always fix something.

“You remember it and work on it for the next big event.”

In the morning session veteran Adam Purdy set a Canadian record in the S6 50-meter butterfly. His time of 37.23 seconds broke his old mark of 38.19 but wasn’t good enough to move him into the finals.

Purdy, who has competed at three Paralympics and five world championships, said the performance of the young swimmers shows the depth of the Canadian program.

“It’s a testament to what we are doing in our at-home program and the strength Canada has in developing the grass-roots programming,” said the 34-year-old.

“To be able to stand up at their first competition and make a final is pretty damn good. It’s a stressful meet for a lot of people, veteran or new. I think they have the youthful vitality coming into a meet like this. It’s great for Canada.”

After three days of competition Canada has five medals (one gold, three silver and a bronze).

In other morning swims Danial Murphy of Bedford, N.S., just missed the final of the S5 200-m freestyle, finishing ninth in 3:02.59.

Alec Elliot swam 1:15. 11 to finish 10^th in the S9 100-m breaststroke. Zack Zona of Waterford, Ont., was 15^th in the S8 200 IM in 2:46.20.

In the S14 200-m freestyle, Gordie Michie of St. Thomas, Ont., was 11^th in a personal best time of 2:04.66. Maxime Rousselle of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., swam a personal best time of 2:05.30 to finish 14^th.

The competition, which ends Sunday, has attracted 580 athletes from close to 70 countries to the Tollcross International Swimming Centre. It’s the largest swimming competition before next year’s Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janerio.

All heats and finals will be shown live at http://www.paralympic.org/glasgow-2015Glasgow2015.com. Results can be found at www.paralympic.org/glasgow-2015/schedule/results.

“I would say all these kids have been identified as our next generation.”