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Condorelli, Kisil advance in 100 free, Lacroix also joins 200-IM finalist Pickrem in evening session

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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Santo Condorelli and Yuri Kisil illustrated why Canada has a bright future in men’s sprinting by advancing to the  Olympic men’s 100-m freestyle semifinals on Tuesday.

At the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Condorelli (Kenora, Ont.) was fifth-fastest in the heats in 48.22 seconds. Kisil (Swimming Canada High Performance Centre – Vancouver / Calgary, Alta.) qualified 11th in 48.49. Overall, 3-of-4 Canadians in action advanced to the evening session, where Sydney Pickrem (Island Swimming / Oldsmar, Fla.) will be in Lane 1 in the women’s 200-m individual medley final at 10:29 p.m EDT.

Third-time Olympian Audrey Lacroix (HPC-Ontario / Pont-Rouge, Que.)  qualified 16th from the women’s 200-m butterfly heats, touching the wall at 2:09.21. Ashton Baumann (Southport, Australia) did not move on after producing a 2:12.61 200-m breastroke, 1.35 seconds adrift from the qualifiers.

Kisil noted the men’s team has been sparked by the three medals thus far from Canadian women.

“We got to get our rear in gear, I guess,” Kisil quipped. “It’s really inspiring us to go as fast we can.”

Condorelli, 21, was first in his heat, showing that he’s become more acclimatized to the Olympic atmosphere since making his debut during the 4×100-m relay.

“I know I was a little rough at the beginning of the meet, but after that swim I feel pretty confident,” Condorelli said. “I feel way more relaxed. So I’m happy. Hopefully tonight I can shoot for a 47-mid [time].”

Kisil, who turns 21 in five weeks, carried over his successive sub-48-second legs in the relay to his individual debut.

“It felt really cool to swim against some of the best in the world and even beat some of them. I think I have a good shot at doing a personal best tonight, I’d need to drop it [his time] by quite a bit.

The pair’s 100-m freestyle semifinals begin at 9:03 p.m. EDT. Lacroix is in the women’s 200-m butterfly semis which begin at 9:37.

Lacroix laboured over the final 25 metres of her heat, and had to sweat out the final heat. The 32-year-old veteran had to sweat out the last heats before getting confirmation that she had earned the final spot.

Two-time FINA swimmer of the year Katinka Hosszu of Hungary withdrew from the 200-m butterfly in advance of the 200-m IM final.

Canada competitors in Wednesday’s heats include:

Women’s 100-m freestyle, 12:02 p.m.: Penny Oleksiak (HPC – Ontario / Toronto, Ont.) and Chantal Van Landeghem (HPC – Ontario / Winnipeg, Man.).

Women’s 200-m breaststroke, 12:47 p.m.: Martha McCabe (HPC – Vancouver / Toronto, Ont.) and Kierra Smith (Liquid Lightning Swim Club / Kelowna, B.C).

Women’s 4×200-m relay, 1:31 p.m.: Katerine Savard (Club Aquatic Montreal / Pont-Rouge, QC), Brittany MacLean (Etobicoke Swim Club / Etobicoke, Ont.), Taylor Ruck (Kelowna, B.C.) and Kennedy Goss (Granite Gators Swim Club / Toronto, Ont.).

Full results / résultats complets : https://www.rio2016.com/en/swimming-schedule-and-results