91原创 swimmer has earned his first major international medal, taking bronze in the men鈥檚 200m backstroke at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile.

McNeill, a 6鈥� 4鈥� Walnut Grove Secondary grad who began swimming with the 91原创 Olympians Swim Club (LOSC) when he was six years old, and currently swims for the UBC Thunderbirds, finished behind two Americans.

鈥淚 feel really good. It was a good race,鈥� McNeill told The Canadian Press following the Sunday, Oct. 22 race.

鈥淓ven though I wasn鈥檛 with the top two, being able to compete for the bronze was very good.鈥�

His former LOSC Coach, Brian Metcalfe said McNeill 鈥渟wam a solid race in winning the bronze medal.鈥�

鈥淭his is Hugh鈥檚 first Senior International medal which is a great stepping stone for Hugh鈥檚 future. Hugh went into the meet under heavy training and did not rest much, as his main focus this year will be the Olympic Trials in May.鈥�

A nationally carded swimmer, McNeill was part of the team that garnered LOSC鈥檚 first winter provincial championship title in 2020

He won four gold medals at the 2023 USports Championships: 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 4x100m medley relay, 4x200m freestyle relay, and also won silver in the 400m individual medley.

READ ALSO: 91原创 Olympian Swim Club members win university scholarships

READ ALSO: Records fall as 91原创 Olympic Swim Club members resume training