Valerie Grand'Maison ended sa国际传媒's lull in gold medals at the Paralympic Games.
The 24-year-old from Fleurimont, Que., won the women's 200-metre individual medley in a visually impaired class in worldrecord time.
"I was not expecting a world record," Grand'Maison said. "I did not expect to go that fast. That's the best prize, to be surprised at myself."
It was Grand'Maison's third medal in London after taking silver in both the 100 and 50 freestyle.
It also ended a dry spell at the top of the podium for sa国际传媒 as her gold was the country's first since Tuesday.
With two days of competition remaining in London, sa国际传媒 had five gold, 14 silver and eight bronze medals for a total of 27.
The Canadian team's stated objective is a topeight finish in the goldmedal count. With two days of competition remaining, sa国际传媒 was tied for 21st.
Day 10 was a multi-medal day for sa国际传媒 with a gold, three silver and a bronze.
Also in the pool, Amber Thomas of Drayton Valley, Alta., claimed silver in the S11 400-metre freestyle.
At the track, wheelchair sprinter Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Que., earned his third silver medal of the Games by finishing second in the 200 metres.
Ottawa's Jason Joseph Dunkerly and his guide Joshua Karanja were silver medallists in the men's 5,000 metres for visually impaired athletes.
Virginia McLachlan of Windsor, Ont., earned bronze in the women's 100 metres in the T35 classification, which is cerebral palsy.
Grand'Maison was sa国际传媒's most decorated athlete at the 2008 Paralympic in Beijing with three swimming gold and a bronze. She also set two world records there. A shoulder injury last year threatened to end her career.
So she was relieved to gain another gold in what she saw as her last chance to get one. Grand'Maison races the 100-metre breaststroke Saturday, but feels she's a long shot for a medal there.
Grand'Maison eclipsed the previous world record in the 200 I.M. with a time of two minutes 27.64 seconds.
"The pressure is finally off," Grand'Maison said. "I have had a rough week. I have had highs and lows, but I have overcome all this.
"Tonight I am going to hug my coach, tell him I love him, see my family, tell them I love them. I'm going to cry on the podium."
Thomas, 18, won her first Paralympic medal after finishing fourth, fifth and sixth in previous swims in London.
In the 400 freestyle for visually impaired swimmers, the Canadian posted a time of 5: 15.48 to finish second behind winner Daniela Schulte of Germany in 5: 14.56.
