Blossoming superstars ready to take centre stage at Canadian swimming trials in Victoria
Competition from the Saanich Commonwealth Place pool in B.C. runs from June 7 to 12
Just three short years ago when hundreds of Canadian swimmers arrived at the Saanich Commonwealth Place pool in Victoria for national trials there were signs that Summer McIntosh, Josh Liendo and a handful of others were on the cusp of something special.
Now, as Canadian swimming stars prepare for another trials in Victoria, it's clear that those sparks of brilliance in the pool in April 2022 have fully developed into global superstars who continue to take down records and chart a new course for swimming in this country.
Throughout those trials McIntosh started signalling to the world she was going to be a force for the foreseeable future, winning all four races she entered. She hasn't stopped since then and has become a generational talent – she is now a three-time Olympic champion, has countless short course and long course world titles and is the world record holder in the 400m individual medley.
Ilya Kharun wasn't even at those trials in Victoria three years ago – he won two bronze medals in Paris last summer — and Liendo is a podium threat at every national meet, having won silver in the 100m butterfly at the Games. The two have also been highly successful in the NCAA ranks, racking up wins and medals.
And they're all just getting started. McIntosh is only 18 years old, Kharun is 19 and Liendo is 21 years old.
WATCH | CBC Sports' The Ready Room discusses storylines from national swim trials:
The Canadian women, who have been the backbone of the Swimming Canada program for three Olympic cycles, continue to thrive. And the men's program is gaining traction as well, with the likes of Finlay Knox and Blake Tierney also posting internationally competitive times.
Many continue to call this the golden generation for Canadian swimming. This current group of Canada swimmers enter these trials beginning Saturday in Victoria, having won eight medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, followed by 15 medals at the short course world championships in Budapest this past December.
Bell Canadian Swimming Trials will stream live on CBCSports.ca and on CBC Gem beginning on Saturday, June 7 at 12:30 p.m. ET, continuing through Thursday, June 12. For a full broadcast schedule of swimming events this season, click here.
It's incredible to consider some of the results for McIntosh since she last dove into the water in Victoria – her three gold medals in Paris made her the first Canadian to win three gold medals at a single Games.
At her short course worlds debut in December, McIntosh broke three world records, won three gold medals, one silver and one bronze. She was named World Aquatics female swimmer of the year and also won the Northern Star Award for top Canadian athlete of the year. She is, by many accounts, the most talented female swimmer on the planet and just recently announced that after the world championships this summer she'll be joining Bob Bowman, who famously coached Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic gold medals.
WATCH | Summer McIntosh's top moments from Canadian swim trials:
McIntosh will be busy in Victoria, having entered in seven events including the 800-metre freestyle, 400m freestyle, 400m individual medley, 200m individual medley, 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 200m butterfly.
By contrast, McIntosh competed in four events at the last Victoria trials – the most impressive time comparison from then to now comes in the form of the 400m IM, where McIntosh has trimmed off a full ten seconds from her 4:34.86 time posted in April 2022. She now holds the world record in the event in a time of 4:24.38 posted at the Olympic trials one year ago.
Expect fast swimming from Kharun and Liendo. They both had major breakthroughs at the Olympics in Paris with Kharun winning two bronze medals – 100m and 200m butterfly – and Liendo won silver in the 100m fly.
WATCH | Will Summer McIntosh break the 200m butterfly world record?
Both also have realistic shots of making some noise in the 50m events, including the 50m free and 50m butterfly – the 50m stroke events are all part of the Olympic programme for LA 2028.
Kylie Masse is also turning back time, having just broken her own 50m backstroke Canadian record at the beginning of May. She is one of the most decorated swimmers in the country's history, known for her consistency and ability to reach the podium time and time again. Masse is entered in the 50m and 100m backstroke as well as the 50m and 100m butterfly.
Under the guidance of Swimming Canada high performance director John Atkinson the program has taken on a business-like energy – swimmers are prepared, have plans and are executing in the pool like never before.
WATCH | McIntosh on training with Michael Phelps' former coach:
Atkinson has stressed an athlete-first approach to their programming, empowering the swimmers to take control of their training plan and in-competition needs. It's led to record-breaking performances over the last number of years. Canadian swimmers are meeting the moment and delivering under pressure.
The national trials offer the unique opportunity to swim in a somewhat high stakes environment and earn a spot on a national senior team. For many, like Masse, McIntosh, Liendo, Harvey and other veterans of the team, there should be few surprises – they are all here to earn their spot on the Canadian worlds team and then build toward the world championships in late-July.
For others, these trials provide the chance to breakthrough – the next Oleksiak, Liendo or McIntosh might just be diving into the Victoria pool this upcoming week.
Powerhouse Para squad on display
Spots on Canada's Para world championship team will also be on the line throughout trials, with a powerhouse squad of swimmers taking to the Victoria pool.
In fact, Canadian Para swimmers racked up 13 medals at the Paris Paralympics, including Nicolas Bennett capturing two gold medals and a silver. His efforts earned him a closing ceremony flag-bearer appointment alongside Para canoeist Brianna Hennessy.
Bennett will join the likes of swimming superstars Aurélie Rivard, Danielle Dorris, Sebastian Massabie and Reid Maxwell in the pool throughout the six days of competition.
Rivard is the veteran of the squad having competed at four Paralympics. Throughout those Games she has collected an astounding 13 medals, including six gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
Bennett and Rivard were named Swimming Canada's Para athletes of the year this past December.
The world Para swimming championships will also be held in Singapore, taking place at the end of September. This marks the first time the Para world championships are being held in Asia.
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