'It just makes my heart so full': P.E.I. swimmer joins her mother as a Canada Games medallist

It took Alexa McQuaid a few seconds to realize she would be standing on the podium for P.E.I. after finishing her Aug. 8 breaststroke race at the Canada Games.

Out of breath, she clued into what was happening around her as team P.E.I. cheered at her performance.

"I looked at the board, and it was really confusing, so it took like five seconds for me to realize I actually won a medal."

McQuaid's 33.48-second 50-metre performance scored her asilver medal, and later the designation of flag bearer for the province at the closing ceremony for the games.

"I was really excited and proud to get a medal for P.E.I.," she told Island Morning on Wednesday.

Medals in the family

The 15-year-old from Charlottetown joins her own mother as a medalist for P.E.I. Katherine McQuaidbrought home a silver for the 100-metre freestyle in the 1985 Canada Games.

When I got behind the block my nerves started to go away and I was just excited to swim.- AlexaMcQuaid

For Katherine, the day was about more than the medal, however.

"Watching her walk to the block, nothing makes a parent more proud than seeing their child succeed at a goal they've been working on for a long time," she said.

Alexasaid she was proud to reach her goal last year she told Island Morning she wanted to win a medal at the games.

Knowing she was close to that goal as she began her race, she said she felt her nerves slip away.

"When I was warming up I was really nervous," she said."Then when I got behind the block my nerves started to go away and I was just excited to swim."

She said she wants to work on improving her personal best times as she trains this winter.

Katherine said she is thrilled about the unique experience she shares with her daughter.

"It's pretty special to be able to share that with my daughter," she said. "The pride in watching her get a silver medal the same as I have, it just makes my heart so full, and I couldn't be happier to share that with my daughter."

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