Dominique Bouchard

Biography

Dominique Bouchard had a breakthrough international season in 2015. She won silver in the 200m backstroke behind teammate Hilary Caldwell at the Pan Am Games, where she also won a pair of relay medals. She then made her FINA World Championship debut, advancing to the final of the 200m backstroke and 4x100m medley relay. Bouchard competed at her first senior national championships at age 13, making her realize that she had the potential to achieve her Olympic dream. She gained invaluable multi-sport competition experience at the 2011 Universiade where she advanced to the finals of the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 4x100m medley relay. Bouchard first competed with the national team at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships. She returned to the quadrennial event in 2014, finishing fifth in the 100m backstroke and sixth in the 200m backstroke. Bouchard’s collegiate career took her to the University of Missouri where she finished as the Tigers’ most decorated swimmer ever with four All-America first team honours and twice placed second in the 200m backstroke at the NCAA Championships.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Yvan and Marise Bouchard… Getting into the Sport: Was in a Water Babies program at 10 months old… Started swimming competitively at age 7… At her first meet was scared of the gun used to start the race… Outside Interests: Enrolled in the Masters in Health Care Administration program at the University of Missouri (projected graduation December 2016)… Graduated in May 2014 with Bachelor of Science in biology and Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Missouri… Would like to be a medical doctor after swimming… Enjoys cooking and baking… Odds and Ends: Nickname: Dom… Eats chicken noodle soup between heats and finals… Always travels with two stuffed animals and her favourite power bars… Favourite motto: Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game…