Janet Gamble surprised even herself.
Nine years removed from competitive swimming, the former Olympian returned to the pool with the UPEI Panthers last weekend and dominated the Amby Legere Atlantic University Sport Invitational at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, N.B.
The 32-year-old broke a handful of UPEI records and finished with gold in both the 50- and 100-metre butterfly and the 50 backstroke.
She also won a silver in the 100 individual medley.
The wins pushed her into the top five of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport rankings in both the 50 freestyle and 50 backstroke.
“I really wasn’t too sure where I would stand after a nine-year hiatus,” a humble Gamble said of her record-breaking weekend.
“For me, this meet was about getting back into it both mentally and physically. My results were a bonus and I now feel as though I will be better able to move forward.”
The Saskatoon native is currently enrolled in the foods and nutrition program at UPEI, where her husband, Edward, is an assistant business professor.
In 2000, she represented Canada at the Sydney Olympics, competing with the 4x100 freestyle team that finished seventh.
This year, she is using her fifth year of eligibility to swim with the Panthers club, of which she has been named a co-captain alongside Marianne Parent.
Gamble’s 1:06.37 finish in the 100 butterfly broke Meghan Colvin’s time of 1:17.59 set in 2008, while her 30.07 in the 50 backstroke bested Sydney Morley’s 33.75, set last year.
Her quick 28.53 in the 50 butterfly sets the new UPEI benchmark over Blythe Martin’s 32.35 from 2008.
And in the 100 medley, Gamble’s top time of 1:06.37 shaved more than seven seconds from Stephanie Landry’s 2009 mark of 1:14.03.
She scored the majority of UPEI’s team points in the meet, finishing with 31.
Gamble was named female athlete of the week at UPEI for her elite performance.
Dalhousie dominated the event, placing first with 736.5 points, while UPEI finished last with 34.
Panthers’ coach Bill Cahoun said the presence of Gamble in the Panther colours caused a stir in Fredericton.
“There was definitely a buzz on the pool deck all weekend about her and the impact she will make for UPEI, the AUS and CIS,” he said.
“Janet is a true competitor who is very unassuming with the way she carries herself. She knows what she has to do and takes the steps to achieve her goals.”
Cahoun said he is excited for what the season will bring.
“We are now a team, and carried ourselves as such on the weekend,” he said. “I am ecstatic with our early season results and look forward to getting back to work preparing for the remaining fall competitions.
“The icing on the cake is having two swimmers that can legitimately challenge to be CIS champions this season.”
Gamble and Eric Beaton, a fourth-year business student, bring a star power rarely seen poolside at UPEI.
Beaton, a 24-year-old fourth year business student, was AUS champion and a CIS qualifier in 2010 and 2011.
“Eric still has great untapped potential that is starting to present itself at meets,” Cahoun said. “Look for him to qualify for CIS early this year and dominate sprinting in the AUS.”
Beaton placed fifth in the 50-metre backstroke and sixth in the 50-metre butterfly, earning the team three points.
Despite the combined team results, Gamble said she was “extremely proud” of the hard work put in by the Panthers.
“Everyone gave it 100 per cent and we are all looking forward to improving together as a team.”
