Kharun lowers own national record in men's 50m butterfly on final day of Canadian swimming trials
Swimming Canada announces squads for worlds and Para worlds following competition
Ilya Kharun has rewritten the Canadian record books again on the final day of national swimming trials in Victoria.
The 20-year-old from Montreal put up a personal-best time of 22.68 seconds in the men's 50-metre butterfly, crushing his previous national record of 23.09.
Kharun's time is the fastest men's 50m butterfly result in the world this year.
WATCH | Kharun outdoes own Canadian record in men's 50m butterfly:
"I'm so, so happy that I got under the 23 [second] mark officially ... now I've just got to keep working, because I know those guys are going to be very strong in Singapore," Kharun told CBC Sports Devin Heroux.
Singapore is set to host the world championship from July 27-Aug. 3, where Kharun feels podiums are within reach.
"I think what's realistic is that I could medal in some of those events. ... I've just got to keep working toward that goal," Kharun said.
No stranger to success at this year's trials, Kharun stacks his latest victory onto wins in the 100m and 200m butterfly events earlier in the competition.
Finlay Knox (23.59) and Eric Ginzburg (23.76) rounded out the podium in the event.
Sauvé takes down Hayden's record
A nearly 17-year-old Canadian record fell in the men's 200m freestyle B final in Victoria on Thursday.
On the last day of national swimming trials, Montreal's Antoine Sauvé shocked the Saanich Commonwealth Place crowd after eclipsing 2012 Olympic medallist Brent Hayden's record (1:46.40) in the event set at the Beijing Games in 2008.
The 19-year-old Sauvé posted a time of 1:46.39 — over two seconds faster than any finish in either of the two men's 200m freestyle finals on the night.
WATCH | Sauvé breaks long-standing national men's 200m freestyle record:
"Coming into the meet, [breaking the record] was my only goal, and after the 100 two days ago I had a big confidence boost," Sauvé said.
"Missing the A final this morning was kind of sad, but I think it just got me excited for tonight."
Sauvé was shut out of the A final by three-tenths of a second in Thursday morning's preliminaries, but used the missed opportunity as a learning experience.
Ethan Ekk, who was born in Tallahassee, Fla., but has Canadian parents from Vancouver, continued his strong showing at trials by winning his heat in the A final in a time of 1:48.53.
The 18-year-old from Stanford University's swim team generated a buzz on Wednesday after winning the 200m backstroke in a national record time of 1:56.54.
Behind Ekk was a tie between Jordi Vilchez of Barrie, Ont., and Filip Senc-Samardzic of Toronto, who both touched the wall in a time 1:48.83.
Bennett breaks own SM14 record
Nicholas Bennett of Parksville, B.C., posted yet another record-breaking time at national trials, trimming down his own SM14 Canadian record in the Para men's 100m backstroke.
The two-time Paralympic champion clocked a 1:02.40, shaving nine-hundredths of a second off his previous best set in 2022.
WATCH | Bennett breaks own national Para record in men's 100m backstroke:
Bennett nearly broke his own world record in the SM14 200m individual medley on Wednesday after setting the national S14 100m butterfly record Tuesday.
The 21-year-old, who grew up swimming in the Saanich Commonwealth Place pool, has had family in attendance throughout competition.
Harvey, Jansen advance to worlds
Kicking off Day 6 was Mary-Sophie Harvey of Trois-Rivières, Que., taking the women's 200m freestyle in a time of 1:56.60, surging in the final 50 metres to secure her victory.
"It's been a long and exhausting week, so honestly, the goal was just get to the wall, get the time and move on and get ready for worlds," Harvey said.
Burlington, Ont., native Ella Jansen finished second in the race, touching the wall in a time of 1:57.33, and will join Harvey in swimming the event at the world championship.
Ruck dashes to women's 50m fly win
Four-time Olympic medallist Taylor Ruck of Kelowna, B.C., edged out Calgary's Matea Gigovic to claim the women's 50m butterfly final, putting up a winning time of 26.47.
Rounding out the podium was veteran Kylie Masse of LaSalle, Ont., who boasts five Olympic medals of her own.
The final day of competition concludes on the heels of an historic meet for Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh, who broke three world records and set two more national marks.
Meanwhile outside of the pool just before the finals session started, Summer mania has hit high gear.<br><br>There was a steady stream of fans for about 20 minutes here. <br><br>Summer McIntosh is a superstar and these young fans can’t get enough. <a href="https://t.co/8vzegvqjsJ">pic.twitter.com/8vzegvqjsJ</a>
—@Devin_HerouxWorld Aquatics Championships team announced
At the conclusion of festivities in Victoria on Thursday came the announcement of Canada's team for the world championship.
The 28-person squad headlined by Summer McIntosh will feature an even split of 14 men and 14 women.
Selections were determined based on the performances throughout trials.
Olympic medallists Josh Liendo, Penny Oleksiak, Masse and Ruck were among the veterans selected, as well as multiple young talents who flashed during trials, including Ekk, Sauvé and 16-year-old Madison Kryger.
"It genuinely means so much," said Kryger, one of four senior team rookies selected. "Making my first junior team last year was a dream come true. This just somehow topped it.
"I've just grown a lot as a swimmer and I'm learning a lot."
The open water swimming portion of the world championship is scheduled for July 14-19 before pool competition from July 26-Aug. 3.
Swimming Canada also announced its World Para Swimming Championships squad.
The roster is composed of 19 athletes, including 8 men and 11 women.
2024 Paralympic medallists and national record holders Bennett, Reid Maxwell and Danielle Dorris are prominent selections, while Sebastian Massabie, who set two Canadian records during trials, was also tapped.
Para worlds, also hosted in Singapore, are set for Sept. 21–27.
Full team
Men
• Eric Brown
• Oliver Dawson
• Ethan Ekk
• Ruslan Gaziev
• Tristan Jankovics
• Ilya Kharun
• Finlay Knox
• Josh Liendo
• Cole Pratt
• Antoine Sauvé
• Filip Senc-Samardzic
• Blake Tierney
• Jordi Vilchez
• Lorne Wigginton
Women
• Sienna Angove
• Sophie Angus
• Ella Cosgrove
• Brooklyn Douthwright
• Emma Finlin
• Ella Jansen
• Madison Kryger
• Alexanne Lepage
• Mary-Sophie Harvey
• Kylie Masse
• Summer McIntosh
• Penelope (Penny) Oleksiak
• Taylor Ruck
• Ingrid Wilm
Full Para team
Men
• Nicholas Bennett
• Alec Elliot
• Jagdev Gill
• James Leroux
• Fernando Lu
• Sebastian Massabie
• Reid Maxwell
• Nicolas-Guy Turbide
Women
• Katie Cosgriffe
• Ali Diehl
• Danielle Dorris
• Alisson Gobeil
• Arianna Hunsicker
• Mary Jibb
• Shelby Newkirk
• Abi Tripp
• Jordan Tucker
• Emma Van Dyk
• Aly Van Wyck-Smart
With files from CBC Sports' Devin Heroux and Swimming Canada
