@fullname - General - Pitt Panthers #H2P

Valerie Daigneault

Class:
Senior
Event(s):
BACK/FREE/IM
Hometown:
Mont-Royal, Quebec
High School:
Kuper Academy

Pitt School Record Holder
100 Free: 49.36, ACC Championships, 2/17/18
100 Back: 53.04, ACC Championships, 2/22/19
200 Back: 1:54.08, ACC Championships, 2/23/19

2018-19 Season

Solidified herself as one of the top women’s swimmers in Pitt history
As a junior, broke two more individual school records and swam on two relay records
Won 15+ individual events in dual meets in freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and medley races
Represented Pitt at the inaugural ACC/B1G Swimming and Diving Challenge
Took first in both backstroke heats vs. West Virginia, helping Pitt win another Backyard Brawl
Triumphed in the 200 Free and 200 Back at the Western PA Invite
Finished the season with her most productive ACC Championships yet
ACCs: 9th in the 200 Back, 18th in the 100 Back, 20th in the 200 IM
Also helped Pitt’s 200 Free and 400 Medley Relay squads break school records

2017-18 Season

Was a major force for the Panthers during her sophomore season at Pitt
Dominated dual meets, winning events with regularity throughout the campaign
Triumphed in the 100 Free and 100 Fly and the Western PA Invite
Set personal bests in seven events, including two Pitt records at the ACC Championships
ACCs: 13th in the 200 IM, 19th in the 200 Back, 20th in the 200 Free
Posted a Pitt record in the 100 Free in leading of the school record-breaking 400 Free Relay
Also swam for three other Pitt record-breaking relays in Greensboro

2016-17 Season

Opened eyes with a record-setting freshman campaign in the pool
Broke Pitt’s school record in the 200 Back several times
Won numerous backstroke and medley races during dual meets
First set Pitt’s 200 Back record at the Ohio State Invite
Reached consolation finals at the AT&T Winter Nationals
Scored in her debut at the ACC Championships in Atlanta
ACCs: 18th in the 200 Back, 26th in the 100 Back, 32nd in the 200 IM
Broke her own 200 Back record and helped Pitt set a 200 Free Relay school record
Raced at the 2017 Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria, British Columbia.
Advanced in all of her backstroke events, placing top-15 in the 50 Back, 100 Back and 200 Back

High School

Competed with the Pointe Claire Swim Club, an elite program in Montreal
Developed under Coach Martin Gingras
Qualified for the 2016 Canadian Olympic Trials in the backstroke
Placed top-30 in both the 100 Back and 200 Back at the 2015 Canadian Team Trials
Top-ranked swimmer in Quebec in the 200 Back
Was a silver medalist in the 400 Free Relay at Canadian Senior Nationals
Also named MVP of her high school swim team at Kuper Academy

Personal

Born Oct. 14, 1997
Daughter of Jean-Jacques Daigneault and Janie Villeneuve
Has two sisters, Gabrielle and Juliette
Has sporting ties to Pittsburgh through her father, Jean-Jacques (J.J.) Daigneault
J.J.'s 10 NHL stops as a player included the Penguins during his 16-year pro career
J.J. was an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens until the end of 2017-18
Sister, Gabby, was a swimmer at Villanova and a four-time All-BIG EAST honoree
Mother, Janie, played college basketball
Speaks fluent French
Communication major and active in Pitt’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
Served an internship with Pitt’s Broadcast/Video Production team

Valerie Daigneault’s Career Performances
Event	Time	Date	Venue
50 Free	23.52	1/26/2019	Western PA Invite
100 Free	49.36	2/17/2018	ACC Championships
200 Free	1:47.16	2/14/2018	ACC Championships
100 Back	53.04	2/22/2019	ACC Championships
200 Back	1:54.08	2/23/2019	ACC Championships
100 Fly	54.98	1/27/2018	Western PA Invite
200 IM	1:58.75	11/15/2018	Ohio State Invitational
400 IM	4:16.21	11/16/2016	Ohio State Invitational