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Maggie MacNeil: biography, Tokyo Olympic gold, Chinese heritage and Canadian dream

  • The 21-year-old’s stock skyrocketed after shocking the world with a record-breaking outing in Tokyo
  • From her birth in Jiujiang, to overcoming asthma, to not knowing she was Olympic champion, here’s what you need to know

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Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Margaret MacNeil, of Canada, after winning the women’s 100m butterfly at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Japan. Photo: AFP
Maggie MacNeil shot to household name status after shocking the world with a gold medal-winning performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The 21-year-old made waves across North America after setting an Americas record in the 100m butterfly, while Chinese swimming fans are increasingly fascinated by the Canadian of Chinese birth and heritage who managed to beat their own generational talent Zhang Yufei.

05:59

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long clinches Olympic gold in historic win at Tokyo Games

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long clinches Olympic gold in historic win at Tokyo Games

Still a university student, MacNeil managed to better the Canadian women’s relay team’s silver medal-winning performance by clinching the country’s first gold at the postponed Games.

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From being adopted by Canadian parents, to having a dream debut at the world championships, to her hilarious reaction to winning Olympic gold, to being given permission by her mother to get a tattoo, here’s what you need to know about Canada’s next swimming superstar.

Canada swimmer Margaret MacNeil competes in the women's 100m butterfly final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Photo: DPA
Canada swimmer Margaret MacNeil competes in the women's 100m butterfly final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Photo: DPA
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