Latest news with #Masse
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Canada's Masse finishes fourth in 100m backstroke at world swimming championships
SINGAPORE - Kylie Masse found herself in a familiar, and frustrating, spot at the world aquatics championships. The Canadian swimming star finished fourth in the women's 100-metre backstroke final Tuesday, narrowly missing the podium in an event she's owned in the past. Masse, a five-time Olympic medallist from LaSalle, Ont., touched the wall in 58.42 seconds — just 0.27 behind American Katharine Berkoff, who took bronze. Australia's Kaylee McKeown won gold in a championship-record 57.16, followed by American Regan Smith (57.35). It was the same 1-2-3 podium as the Paris Olympics last summer, where Masse also placed fourth. The two-time world champion said she entered the meet with fewer races under her belt than in previous seasons. 'I really can't complain and I have to keep things in perspective,' said the 29-year-old Canadian. 'To be fourth in the world and still be up there, competitive with the top and with those girls who I know are incredible swimmers, it's something that I'm really proud of.' Taylor Ruck of Kelowna, B.C., placed seventh in 59.59 seconds. Ilya Kharun put himself in position to reach the podium in the men's 200-metre butterfly. The 20-year-old from Montreal advanced to Wednesday's final with the fifth-fastest semifinal time, clocking of 1:54.43. Kharun won bronze in the event at the Paris Olympics with a Canadian-record time of 1:52.80. 'I can definitely go a lot quicker,' he said. 'My plan going into tonight was just to make it into the final. 'I hadn't really pushed myself until that final 50. It was all right, I've just got to be quicker (Wednesday).' He rebounded after narrowly missing the 50-mete butterfly final earlier in the meet, placing ninth — just 0.01 seconds shy of qualifying. 'I was really mad at myself and just mad at everything,' Kharun said. 'But I just had to turn it around and think of it as more experience.' Canada has won four medals at the world aquatics championships, including two gold medals from 18-year-old Summer McIntosh. The Toronto swimmer will be back in action Wednesday in the women's 200-metre butterfly. She's won gold in the 400 freestyle and 200 individual medley so far, and is aiming for five individual titles at the eight-day meet. Legendary U.S. Olympian Michael Phelps is the only swimmer to have won five individual gold medals at a world championships. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada's backstroke big-gamer Kylie Masse focused on worlds, not 2028 L.A. Olympics
The best women's backstroker Canada has ever produced refuses to look deep into the future. Five-time Olympic medallist Kylie Masse of LaSalle, Ont., has her mind on the world swimming championship starting Saturday in Singapore, and not on Los Angeles in 2028. The 50-metre backstroke added to the Olympic swim program in 2028 seems a boon for one of the best in the world at it, but the 29-year-old has yet to decide if she'll compete in her fourth Olympic Games. 'I am still in a position where I'm just kind of taking it moment by moment and figuring it out, and I'm not really putting any pressure on myself to commit to that at this point,' Masse said. 'I am excited to see what I can do in it this year, but as far as 2028, I'm just kind of taking it day by day.' The 50 backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly have long been staples of world championships, but those sprints will make their Olympic debuts in L.A. Masse won a world championship in the 50 backstroke in 2022. She was first at the turn of the 100 in Tokyo in 2021 en route to an Olympic silver medal. The Canadian and American Regan Smith were tied for first at the half of last year's 100 in Paris, where Masse settled for fourth. She won bronze in the 200 backstroke, however, and became the first Canadian swimmer to earn a medal in three consecutive Olympic Games. The athlete able to combine the most power and the best technique wins the 50 metres, Masse said. 'Because it happens so fast, there's no room for error,' she explained. After the longest post-Olympic break of her career — during which she took time to reflect — Masse eased back into the water in October. Now, she heads to her fifth long-course world championship, where she's already collected nine medals, including three gold.' 'I spent many days contemplating what I wanted to do and if I wanted to keep swimming or how much I wanted to keep swimming,' Masse said. 'I kind of realized I still love swimming and I wanted to keep swimming, not to the same capacity as I was swimming before, but I still wanted to be in the water and be competitive. I had a good (Canadian) trials and I was pleasantly surprised and happy with that, and I'm really looking forward to getting to Singapore and just being able to represent Canada again.' Masse is the veteran of Canada's 28-swimmer squad that boasts 18-year-old phenom Summer McIntosh, who is poised to make more history. The Toronto teen followed up her triple-gold, four-medal performance in Paris by setting three world records at June's trials in Victoria — in the 200 and 400 individual medleys, and the 400 freestyle. 'It's been incredible to watch her grow and to have trained with her when she was 14, just kind of coming onto the scene,' Masse said. 'It's super-exciting for our whole team and for the country, and for the swimming world in general, to just have someone of that calibre continuing to push the boundaries of history.' McIntosh will also race the 200 butterfly and 800 freestyle in Singapore, with a highly-anticipated showdown with American star Katie Ledecky in the 800 free Aug. 2. McIntosh's potential participation in relays could add to another medal haul. Her ambitious program gets underway with Saturday's 400 freestyle heats followed by Sunday's final. Finlay Knox of Okotoks, Alta., is the reigning men's 200 individual medley world champion after claiming the title in 2024 in Doha, Qatar. Toronto's Joshua Liendo and Montreal's Ilya Kharun, who took Olympic silver and bronze, respectively, in the 100 butterfly, are contenders in that distance, plus the 50 fly, which is also now part of L.A.'s Games. Singapore offers a prize money purse of US$3.1 million for pool and open-water swimmers, plus a $30,000 bonus to swimmers who break world records. 'Part of our strategic plan is that Swimming Canada aspires to be a top-six swimming nation,' Swimming Canada high-performance director John Atkinson said. 'I think the program has developed to the point where you have to say that we would target being the top four nations on the medal table.' Canada's team will be minus Penny Oleksiak, who won the women's 100 and 50 freestyle at trials. She withdrew from the world championship because of a 'whereabouts' issue under anti-doping rules. The World Anti-Doping Code (WADA) defines a whereabouts failure as any combination of three missed tests or filing failures in a 12-month period, which the International Testing Agency stated Oleksiak did between October 2024 and June 2025. She's accepted a provisional suspension for what Swimming Canada called an 'administrative mistake' in not keeping her whereabouts information up to date. Even with closer McIntosh and veteran Marie-Sophie Harvey, Oleksiak's absence makes Canada less deep in freestyle relay experience. 'It's a loss. I feel for the athlete as a person having made the decision to withdraw before going over there, a hard decision for any athlete to take, but (she) did it in the interests of the team,' Atkinson said. 'Her voluntary withdrawal, putting the team first, is all very admirable. 'Now the team also has to look ahead and say 'we're the athletes that are here' and it gives opportunities to other athletes on the team to say 'what can you all do, how can you step up and get us through the prelims and race in the finals?'' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025.
The Drive
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
This Off-Road Honda Fit Is Really a Polaris RZR Underneath and It Rips
When you think about it, anything can become an off-roading beast nowadays. With the proper tires, lift kit, suspension, and disregard for self-preservation—er, I mean, passion —even a Honda Fit can terrorize your neighborhood's immaculate lawns. Resembling a Micro Machines car come to life is Danny Duncan's off-roading 2017 Honda Fit. It was actually lifted and transformed into an off-roader in 2020, and you can check out that incarnation of the vehicle at the 2:41 mark of this old video. Last year, fellow content creator/builder Mike Masse crashed Duncan's Polaris RZR. Masse's injuries put him in the hospital, but by the time he was discharged, he had an idea: swapping the Fit's innards for the RZR's. A modded Fit 4×4 has been done before, but a body swap? To be a true off-roader, sure, why not give the subcompact Honda a side-by-side's capability? As Masse explains, the fit of the, uh, Fit was underwhelming. 'The little transmission can't turn 35s, the suspension is creaky, and there's some broken parts,' he said in his first video about the build. Nevertheless, he also casually added that 'It might be the best Honda Fit to ever exist.' Masse started posting about the project in March, documenting the repair of the RZR, the body swap, and the teardown test drive, which happened just a couple of weeks ago and is embedded above. To see and hear the 'upgraded' RZR-Fit (this thing needs a real name), you can skip to about 7:27. Masse rips the little Honda around the property near the garage at full squeal. This definitely can no longer be called a small, front-wheel-drive car. It doesn't sound like a Fit at all, and in overhead shots, it doesn't drive like one either, rumbling around those dirt corners. Masse then takes the lifted Honda to the streets and, subsequently, the grassy road verges. That bit starts at the 8:38 mark, and we see the Fit's handling from the road. And, as you'd expect, the thing drives over and onto everything with very little effort. A standard Fit would've lost a bumper at the least. The joyride ends with a sheriff's deputy waiting back at the shop due to reports of 'racing.' Masse doesn't say what the result of the conversation was, but tells us, 'I don't think I broke 40 mph.' He adds, 'Typical, like [a] Honda thing where it sounds like it's fast and it sounds loud, but it's not really going anywhere.' The off-road Fit is unfinished, of course. Masse wants to address 'clunking' noises he heard, improve the stopping power of the brakes, and add another inch or two of lift to better accommodate the big tires, which still rub against the fender during hard stops and turning. The overall build won't win any points for cleanliness, but the vehicle is structurally sound thanks to all the welding that was done. Masse did a great job of making regularly serviceable bits, like refueling, easily accessible. Let's hope the next test is on an actual trail, though. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Beverly Braga has enjoyed an eventful career as a Swiss Army knife, having held roles as an after-school teacher, film critic, PR manager, transcriber, and video producer – to name a few. She is currently a communications consultant and freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous outlets covering automotive, entertainment, lifestyle, and food & beverage. Beverly grew up in Hawaii but roots for Washington, D.C., sports teams.
National Post
02-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
'Unprecedented territory': Major labour shift at polls as blue-collar goes Tory blue
As much of the rest of Canada went red Monday night, an epic voter shift turned all of Windsor-Essex blue. Article content Article content In a Canadian election often dominated by U.S. politics, the Liberal Party of Canada scored a historic comeback on Monday with Prime Minister Mark Carney — leader of a party written off as a sure loser — winning a fourth government mandate. Article content But an equally historic turn occurred in Windsor-Essex, where the Conservative Party of Canada swept every riding, a modern-day first, including the defeat of two incumbents. Article content In a major border battleground victory, Conservative Harb Gill won Windsor West over longtime NDP incumbent Brian Masse, who fell to third place after holding a seemingly unshakeable grip in the riding since 2002. Article content The Conservatives also appear to have taken Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore from Liberal incumbent Irek Kusmierczyk, who helped bring a potentially unprecedented amount of funding and investment to the local region during his two terms as MP. The official vote was not yet certain Tuesday morning, however, in a close race. Article content Article content 'For Windsor to flip blue is quite something,' said University of Windsor political scientist Lydia Miljan. Article content 'It does show that the Conservative strategy of gunning for blue-collar support and for union support paid off, especially in Windsor, and some Hamilton ridings as well. Article content 'Clearly, they were speaking to people where they lived. They were focused on economic issues, and people were feeling the cost of living. I think their strategy and timing played very well for them, in this region at least.' Article content Article content Article content 'Tonight, you made history. You chose hope over fear, opportunity over division, and a fresh start for our community. Tonight, you chose change. Article content 'I am incredibly honoured and grateful for the trust you placed in me.' Article content Masse's loss after 23 years was part of an epic unraveling for the NDP. Leader Jagmeet Singh stepped down early Tuesday after losing his own British Columbia seat — and party status in the House of Commons. Article content Article content 'I have zero regrets about anything that took place,' said Masse. 'I have nothing but admiration and great experiences and fond memories, even during a loss. Article content 'The result isn't what we wanted tonight, but that's okay. That's our democracy, and I accept the results.' Article content The hotly contested race in Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore was too close to call until after midnight. But Conservative Kathy Borrelli apparently unseated Liberal Irek Kusmierczyk, who had represented the riding since 2019.
CBC
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Harb Gill projected to win Windsor West, CBC News projects Liberal government
Conservative candidate Harb Gill will win the coveted riding of Windsor West, CBC projects. A political newcomer, Gill has flipped the riding from the NDP's Brian Masse, who held it for more than two decades. Meanwhile, Conservative incumbents Dave Epp (Chatham-Kent—Leamington), Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong) and Chris Lewis (Essex) have been re-elected, CBC News projects. CBC News is projecting a Liberal government, but the Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore riding is still too close to call. You can follow national results here. Canada's automotive capital emerged as a focal point of the 36-day federal campaign because of its proximity to and relationship with the U.S. Windsor was a popular destination for party leaders, particularly the Liberals' Mark Carney and the NDP's Jagmeet Singh, who bookended their campaigns in the city. Already, turnout in the region's five federal ridings has been high, with thousands of voters hitting advance polls over the Easter long weekend. Polls in Ontario closed Monday at 9:30 p.m. ET. Windsor West Gill's team and supporters celebrated at a local banquet hall as he was projected to win the Windsor West seat, one of the most closely watched this election. "Oh my god, this is one of the greatest nights," said Al Teshuba, who worked on Gill's campaign. "We knew that Brian Masse was beatable, we knew that the border town of Windsor deserved a Conservative for the right border, trade, economy." Windsor West has long been an NDP stronghold, with Masse holding it since 2002. But the riding was flipped by Gill, a former police officer, who was projected to win with roughly 40 per cent of the vote share and nearly all 231 polls reporting. "I think our message was of hope matched with action which is going to bring results," Gill said. "That is what resonated with the voters." He said "affordability, crime, opioid awareness" are among his priorities for when he gets to Ottawa. He also thanked fellow candidates Richard Pollock, who ran for the Liberals, and Masse. "They are great people," Gill said. "Anybody who steps up to public service, I've done 30 years of public service, I know the sacrifices you have to make, and so did they." In a concession speech, Masse told supporters he is without regrets. "It's not the result that we wanted, and I thought about this a lot before even coming here," Masse said. "I am super proud and grateful for all of you here today, because I still believe in positive politics," he said. "I don't for once think that the future of this country is about remaining hidden or doing things not up front, because what we need to do is still provide hope and opportunity, and not the negativity that we see sometimes during politics." Here's what voters in the riding told CBC Windsor they were looking for from candidates. Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore Election Day in the newly redrawn Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore riding got off to a fiery start after a blaze erupted on the roof of the WFCU Centre, one of the riding's polling stations. Voters were redirected to St. Joseph's Catholic High School. The riding made national headlines early on in the race when the Conservatives removed candidate Mark McKenzie over comments he made on a podcast in 2022. The party replaced McKenzie with Kathy Borrelli, who ran in the riding unsuccessfully in the last federal election. The Liberals' Irek Kusmierczyk has held the seat since 2019, and the NDP's candidate is Alex Ilijoski, an ambulance communications officer. Kusmierczyk and Borrelli were locked in a tight race with 280 of 282 polls reporting after 1 a.m. Tuesday. Ilijoski, trailing in a distant third, told CBC Windsor that at voters' doors, "the number one issue for the vast majority of people was Trump and the tariffs […] especially for our riding being a border city." "The vast majority of Canadians do not want us to become part of the United States and this election is basically a show of that," he said. Essex Chris Lewis, who has held the riding since 2019, has been re-elected, CBC News projects. In his victory speech, Lewis thanked voters, as well as his family and team, for their support. "It means the world to me," he said. He also praised Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, saying he "has worked tirelessly." "He cares about our region," Lewis said. "I'm proud of him, I stand firmly behind him, and I'm just excited to get to work." Essex is a largely rural riding that includes several municipalities and saw the third highest turnout in advance voting nationwide. A Liberal stronghold from the 1970s to the early 2000s, the riding has voted mostly Conservative since. Lewis faced a challenge from Liberal candidate Chris Sutton, a farmer and millwright, and the NDP's Lori Wightman. Chatham-Kent—Leamington CBC News projects that incumbent Dave Epp will be headed back to Parliament. In an interview with CBC Windsor, Epp said it was "truly humbling to be given the trust" of constituents once again. "What I heard at the doors are the issues that we've heard for several years," he said. "The cost of food, cost of living, cost of housing, and certainly with the threat of tariffs, and the uncertainty, the precarity that brings to employment, the concerns that Canada's been facing over the last couple of years are just exacerbated." Agriculture and automotive are important employers in this riding, which the Conservatives have held since 2006. Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong Marilyn Gladu, who has held the riding since 2015, has also been re-elected, CBC News projects. Once a bellwether riding, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong was expanded and renamed ahead of this election to include Walpole Island First Nation. "This is a great victory, certainly hard fought. We had doubled the size of the riding and added 20,000 people," Gladu told CBC Windsor. "I will definitely be a strong voice to get dollars from the federal government back to our riding to support the things we need to do here as a cross border community." "Even for those who didn't vote for me, I'm here for you," she added. George Vandenberg was the local Liberal candidate, while Lo-Anne Chan was running for the NDP.
