![A swimmer in a black cap marked 'PSW' rests at the pool edge, wearing mirrored goggles, during a competitive swim event.](/sites/default/files/styles/21x9_1100w/public/2024-08/massabie-paralympics.jpg?h=c2c6375a&itok=U3g0-5qw)
Local para swimmer ready to make waves this month in Paris
Local para swimmer, Sebastian Massabie, is set to make a splash later this month in Paris, representing Canada at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Surrey, B.C. – Local para swimmer, Sebastian Massabie, is set to make a splash later this month in Paris, representing Canada at the 2024 Paralympic Games. Massabie, 19, will compete in the Men’s S4 50m Freestyle, S4 100m Freestyle and S4 200m Freestyle races in Paris.
“This is a historic milestone for Sebastian and the Pacific Sea Wolves, as he becomes the club’s first Paralympian,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “I want Sebastian to know that the City of Surrey will be proudly cheering him on in his quest for Gold. The City also takes pride in its contribution to his success by providing world class, accessible facilities for him and other athletes with disabilities to train and compete in.”
Since 2016, Massabie has been a member of the Pacific Sea Wolves Swim Club, training at Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre.
“Sebastian’s dedication and hard work have been nothing short of inspiring. Breaking national records and setting a world record this season is a phenomenal achievement,” said Jy Lawrence, Massabie’s head coach. “His journey from a young swimmer in Surrey to a world-class athlete is a testament to his perseverance and passion for the sport.”
Massabie, who has cerebral palsy affecting his left side, has enjoyed a breakthrough season this year. In May, at the 2024 Paralympic Trials, he shattered six Canadian records in his sport class: the S4 50m Freestyle, S4 100m Freestyle, S4 200m Freestyle, S4 50m Backstroke, SM4 150m Individual Medley and S4 50m Butterfly—setting a new world record in the latter event with a time of 38.68 seconds.
He further broke this record on July 29 at the Canadian Swimming Championships with a time of 38.02 seconds, having already set a precedent in the preliminaries with 38.48 seconds. Massabie has broken the decade-old world record four times this year. During the competition, he also improved upon the national records he had set two months earlier in the S4 50m Freestyle, S4 200m Freestyle and SM4 150m Individual Medley events.
Massabie’s success has not only inspired fellow swimmers, but the entire community as well. Training in Surrey since he first learned to swim, he has become a source of hometown pride. In December 2023, he was named top male swimmer at the Ken Demchuk Invitational Swim Meet, held at Guildford Recreation Centre, marking a particularly special moment for the young athlete.
As Massabie prepares to compete in the Paralympics, he’ll have the support of his family and community, along with the confidence of his coach. The 2024 Paralympic Games will take place in Paris, France, from August 28 to September 8, with the Opening Ceremony kicking off the event on August 28.