Kylie Masse heads into the 2018 Commonwealth Games from an unfamiliar position.
For the first time in her career, the 22-year-old Canadian will participate in a major swimming competition as a gold-medal favourite.
Masse set the world record for the women's 100m backstroke at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, instantly transforming the LaSalle, Ont., native from promising up-and-comer to standard-bearer.
Her blazing performance last summer was the pinnacle of a career trajectory that had been steadily moving upward, with Masse making her way through the Canadian university ranks to a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio to, with her time of 58.10, world record holder and world champion.
And now Masse prepares to enter the biggest competition of 2018 as the woman everyone else will be chasing. It's something that she says she's still getting used to.
"I still can't wrap my head around how fast things have gone and how much I've done in such a short period of time," Masse told DAZN. "I wasn't expecting to swim that fast [so soon]."
Masse heads into the competition as the favourite in the 100m backstroke, but she also presents a threat at the 200m distance. Having finished fifth in the 200m at last year's worlds, Masse has gone on to post the second-fastest time at the distance so far this year, behind Canadian teammate Taylor Ruck.
Could a rise to the top of the podium in two individual events be in the cards for Masse?
“I think that’s always a goal. But I’m really just trying to see what I can do outdoors and be confident in my races themselves,” she told reporters in Australia . “I’ve been working more on the 200m each year — I didn’t do it in Rio but I did it last year at worlds, so each time I swim it is a new opportunity to learn and I try and work on that as best as possible along with the 100m.”
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As with most of the swimmers, Masse is preparing to race in several events. In addition to her favoured 100m and 200m distances, she will also compete in the 50m backstroke.
Masse captured a bronze in each of the two relay events (4x100m women's medley and 4x100m mixed medley) she took part in at last year's World Championships, and she's looking forward to joining her Canadian compatriots for another shot at team glory.
Penny Oleksiak, Masse's teammate and the only Canadian swimmer that can reasonably claim to have more pressure on her at the Commonwealth Games, is eager to get to work with Masse and the rest of Canada's relay team.
"I’m just excited to get to the meet, get on some relays and get to be on another relay with Kylie and hopefully do well on that [4x100m] medley," Oleksiak told reporters in a conference call last week. "Overall, I think it’s going to be a good time."
For her part, Masse pointed to the relay as a highlight of her upcoming schedule. While no one is doubting her ability to handle the pressure as an expected medallist in her individual events, the relay allows for the big expectations to be spread among four teammates.
It's a different type of pressure that'll surely come as a welcome change from what will no doubt be an intense few days in the individual events.
"I’m just really looking forward to the Commonwealth Games as well and working on what I’ve been doing all year. I’m just swimming a few backstrokes and then the relay with Penny, so relays are always fun and really special to be a part of," Masse said.
"To be able to swim with three other girls and really represent Canada, I think that’s what we’re going to try to do as best as possible."