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Chetrat sets national record en route to Pan Am bronze by Michael Gregory Metroland Media Group 3 | Thursday, July 16, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville native Zack Chetrat added to Canada's medal haul on the opening night of swimming competition at the Pan Am Games Aquatic Centre on Tuesday, storming to a bronze medal in the men's 200 butterfly in Canadian-record time. The 24-year-old, who now makes his home in Scarborough, was smiling ear-to-ear as he saluted the deafening, sold-out crowd of mostly Canadian supporters. "I put the blinders on and just focused on what my plan was... and knew that if I stuck to my race plan, things would go well," Chetrat said. Chetrat, who shares Canadian swimming team captain duties with fellow Oakville Aquatic Club product Tera Van Beilen, also broke the national record with his final time of 1:56.90, becoming the first Canadian to eclipse the 1:57 barrier. The five-year-old record was held by Stefan Hirniak, who set the standard while going on to win a bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. "I've been chasing that Canadian record, getting closer to it for a good number of years," Chetrat said. "Finally, to knock off a good chunk of time to get under that benchmark is something special; to do it here, it's even better." Brazil's Leonardo De Deus won the butterly event in a Pan Am Games record of 1:55.01, and Peru's Mauricio Fiol was not far behind for silver in 1:55.15. Victoria's Alec Page finished fourth in 1:58.01. Chetrat said to win his first international medal in front of fam- Former Oakville Aquatic Club member Zack Chetrat plows through the water during his men's 200-metre butterfly swim Tuesday in Scarborough. Chetrat won Pan Am Games bronze with a time of 1:56.90, which set a new Canadian record. | photo by Steve Russell -- Toronto Star ily and friends was something he'll always cherish. "The crowd is full of my family, my friends, people I've trained with -- I feel like everybody I know is in the stands right now and that's a really special feeling," he said, noting the time he used to spend with his grandparents between workouts at their restaurant on the University of Toronto campus. In the first event of the night, Winnipeg's Chantal van Landeghem upset the U.S.'s Natalie Coughlin to win the women's 100 metre freestyle in Pan Am record time. Chetrat said that helped to set the tone for the team early on. "It made it real, it made it doable, " he said. " To have a close friend like that get up on the blocks and do something amazing, you think, I can do this too. "She inspired me tonight by getting that medal," he said. On the men's side, Santo Condorelli captured silver in the 100 freestyle, and the Canadians grabbed another in the 4x100m freestyle relay. As co-captain, Chetrat is also trying to pass along valuable advice to some of his younger teammates on enjoying the Games experience. "Have fun," he said. "If you come in and worry about things, you won't enjoy it. A happy swimmer is a fast swimmer." Pan Am swimming competition continues through to Saturday. Organic Detox Body Treatment with Express Facial (75 minutes) Body Brush Glow Mango Enzyme Or Treatment Tighten & Tone Exfoliating & Rejuvenating Eliminate Toxins Ease Tired Muscles Book online to reserve prettyinpinkspa.com Naseberry Body Lotion ($32 value) FrEE 905.842.7465 · 1011 Upper Middle Road East July 15th thru August 15th 3 course Dinner $32.95 2 course Lunch $19.95 plus a la carte Taste of Clarkson 905 822 5751 www.michaelsbackdoor.com 1715 Lakeshore Road West