Another year. Another successful season. Another annual award.

Such, it seems, has been the athletic life of standout Aurélie Rivard since she was named Swimming Canada Female Swimmer of the Year (Paralympic Program) for the first time at age 17, back in 2014.

Almost a decade later, the now 26-year-old earned the recognition for the sixth time following her remarkable 2022 campaign, adding to her record haul in the category. Former national team great Valérie Grand’Maison was honoured four times between 2006 and 2013.

“It’s always special,” said Rivard, who hails from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. “I find that, over time, it’s harder to maintain a position than it is to reach it. It’s like they say about titles: Defending them is harder than winning them for the first time.

“So yes, for sure, a pat on the back always feels good.”

At the Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships last June, Rivard successfully defended her titles in both the 50 and 100-metre freestyle S10, setting a new meet standard in the latter. She also captured bronze in the 100 backstroke and was a member of the Canadian record-breaking 4×100 free 34 points relay.

Thanks to her 17 medals across five career appearances at worlds, she became the all-time most decorated Canadian woman at the event.

Despite these achievements, however, the 2022 edition was not all smooth sailing for the six-time world champion, who describes the competition in Portugal as “an emotional rollercoaster”.

Between her triumphs in the 50 on opening night and in the 100, Rivard had to withdraw from the 400 free final mid-race due to a medical issue.

She was among the favourites in the race after winning the event at the last two Paralympic Games, including a world-record performance at Tokyo 2020.

“It started great but got a lot less fun in the middle,” said the three-time Paralympian and five-time Paralympic champion. “It tainted the rest of my summer for sure. It was a challenge. But I’m proud of the fact I was able to get back in the water, win medals, and get over it pretty quickly, even temporarily.”

Marc-André Pelletier has been training Rivard at Club de Natation Région de Québec in Quebec City since January of 2020.

The 2022 Swimming Canada Coach of the Year (Paralympic Program) is proud of the way his protégée handled the challenging situation in Madeira.

“The 400 free at worlds was difficult for Aurélie. These are things she needs to work on. But she’s able, even after a disappointing performance, to come back with very good times. It shows how good an athlete she is.

“The fact she was able to deliver such a performance (in the 100 free) in those circumstances is further proof she is a great champion.”

A month after the WPS championships, in late July, Rivard further added to her international resume at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, with a silver medal in her lone event, the 200 individual medley.

“The Commonwealth Games are special because in Para swimming, you only have one event available, and you don’t even choose it,” said Rivard, who had also medalled in the 200 IM in her two previous appearances at the Games, capturing silver in 2018 and bronze in 2014. “In my case, the 200 IM, it’s not an event I train for a lot. I’m more or less comfortable with it.

“Personally, those Games are an opportunity to enjoy a fun experience. To be with the Olympic team. We don’t see them very often and we get along very well with them. Also, it’s so much fun to cheer on Canadian athletes from different sports. It’s like a mini Olympics, without the pressure to perform. My three experiences have been fabulous.”

After taking an extended break at the end of 2022, Rivard got back to business in mid-February at the season-opening event of the 2023 Citi Para Swimming World Series.

She reached the podium in all three of her events, winning the 50 and 100 free.

“It was my first competition since the Commonwealth Games. I used it to see where I’m at, what kind of shape I was in. For now, my goals are very short term. Next up are the Trials, where I’m going to try to set realistic goals in terms of time.”

The 2023 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials are set for March 28 to April 2 in Toronto. The world championships – the last ones before the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games – follow from July 31 to August 1^st in Manchester, England.

“For sure, the last worlds before the Paralympics are particularly important,” said Rivard, who studies law at Université Laval in Quebec City. “Based on my experiences in 2015 and 2019, that’s where I go more in ‘try stuff’ mode. If I have things to test technically or mentally, I’ll do it there. It’s better to make mistakes at those world championships by trying things out, and then have a chance to fine tune the details.

“Yes, I’m going to go there to defend my titles, to do the best I can and swim as fast as I can. But more importantly, this will be the last big meet where all the top athletes will be before Paris.

“The Paralympic Games is the ultimate goal. That’s where it really counts.”