London's own Maggie Mac Neil comes home with every colour medal
Olympian Maggie Mac Neil came home this weekend after receiving a gold, silver and bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Although tired and getting use to the time change, Mac Neil spoke with Ken and Loreena on News Talk 1290 CJBK early Tuesday morning.
With the pandemic, she told CJBK, "I pretty much didn't go in with any expectations because of the year that we had."
No expectations, but she came home with three medals to her name:
- Gold: Women's 100m butterfly
- Silver: Women's 4x100m freestyle relay
- Bronze: Women's 4x100m medley relay
With those medals has come new-found fame. She got a bit of a taste of it after winning worlds in 2019, but now she's a well-known Canadian, even getting a follow on Instagram from Ryan Reynolds, and having a brief conversation with him via direct messaging.
"I was getting so many followers a day but I kept scrolling and I was like, I found it and I was, it was just shocking. I told him The Proposal was one of my favorite movies, so I was like I texted him that and he's like, 'Oh, I love that movie too,' so it was really it was really cool."
As her hometown of London cheered her on, she also took time to speak to swimmers that she once swam with saying, "I was where they are. If you want to do something and put your mind to it, you can accomplish whatever you want."
Mac Neil claimed she's a 'swim nerd' who's constantly checking stats to see what she can do to get better.
The 21-year-old said the team had a final debriefing after the competition, counting down the two years plus until the next Olympics, but also making sure to enjoy the moment.
Although there was talk of Mac Neil being the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies of the Olympics, the Canadian Olympic Committee rules state that Olympians must depart within 24-48 hours of their final competition due to COVID-19 regulations.
Now that she's home, she assumes it will be one of the Olympians who is still in Tokyo.
What is the Olympian going to do now that she's home?
"Probably chill out, maybe take a nap at some point…have a campfire and a homemade drive-in with some of my friends."
- With files from CTV News London's Brent Lale
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.