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GLASGOW — Audrey Lacroix wasn’t sure she would ever swim competitively again, let alone experience a moment like the one she had Monday night.
The Canadian butterfly specialist won gold in the women’s 200-metre final at the Commonwealth Games to complete a remarkable comeback after being diagnosed with a career-threatening anxiety disorder in 2011.
Lacroix was having a difficult time in the leadup to the London Olympics and found herself constantly on edge as the pressure to make the team mounted following a string of poor results.
The Pont-Rouge, Que., native eventually sought help, and it started her on a path to the top of the podium at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
“When I was diagnosed with anxiety, I wasn’t sure if I could ever go in the (starting) blocks again,” said the 30-year-old Lacroix. “I took it step by step. I did one race and then I made the Olympic team.
“Now to be able to race some of the fastest girls in the world and win is just so incredible. I know how hard it was to get back to this level so now I appreciate it even more.”
Lacroix said she seriously contemplated quitting the sport in her darkest moments, but decided to continue after lengthy discussions with coaches, officials and team doctors.
“The main goal was for me to be healthy and swimming at that level, it’s not for everybody, and you need to be healthy to do it,” said the two-time Olympian. “Everybody was fine with whichever decision I took.”
Lacroix touched the wall first in a time of two minutes 7.61 seconds on Monday, but initially wasn’t sure if she had done enough to get her first gold at the Commonwealth Games.
“I was really confused. For some reason I couldn’t see the board — I couldn’t see my name or my time,” she said. “I turned and I saw that there was one light on my block, so that my meant I won. I also had the TV camera in my face so that was a pretty good cue.”
Aimee Willmott of England was second in 2:08.07, while Australia’s Maddie Groves captured bronze in 2:08.44.
Katerine Savard — who won the 100-metre butterfly earlier in the competition — led for the first 100 metres, but the Pont-Rouge native faded late and finished eight.
Lacroix won bronze in the 100-metre butterfly at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and took home a silver in the 200-metre event four years ago. She was fifth halfway through Monday’s race and third with 50 metres to go before kicking things into another gear to bring home Canada’s third gold medal in the pool.
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