Canada's Oleksiak eyes 8th career Olympic medal despite not swimming medley relay final
2021 bronze medallist delivered spectacular freestyle leg in Saturday semifinals
Three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics, Penny Oleksiak helped Canada to bronze in the women's 100-metre medley relay. She won't swim in Sunday's final in Paris at 1:32 p.m. ET after a strong effort in the semifinals, but could still earn a medal.
The country's most decorated athlete with seven Olympic medals showed up in a big way early Saturday at La Defense Arena in Nanterre, France.
Oleksiak delivered a spectacular 52.93-second freestyle leg to anchor the Canadian women to a heat win in three minutes 56.10 seconds, 3-10ths faster than the United States and trailing only Australia (3:54.81).
"I'm just so happy, I feel really good," Oleksiak told Devin Heroux of CBC Sports post-race.
"It's been a long week building up to this. Everyone's like, 'Where are you?' but here I am now, and I'm excited to do something tomorrow [in the final]."
The 24-year-old Toronto native would still be awarded a medal even though she isn't a participant in the final.
Instead, Kylie Masse, Sophie Angus, Maggie Mac Neil and Summer McIntosh will take to the pool, according to Heroux.
On Saturday, Oleksiak helped Canada book a spot in the final along with Mary-Sophie Harvey, Ingrid Wilm and Angus.
WATCH | Oleksiak races sensational freestyle in medley relay heats:
In Tokyo, Oleksiak raced the final with Kylie Masse, Maggie Mac Neil and Sydney Pickrem, posting a time of 3:52.60.
In between, she dealt with two knee surgeries and a shoulder injury that limited her ability to train and compete.
I think when you're on a relay [team] and you're surrounded by other girls, it really does take that pressure off.— Canadian swimmer Penny Oleksiak
Oleksiak also moved to Mission Viejo, Calif., in 2023 to join a group of international pro swimmers coached by Jeff Julian.
Oleksiak didn't qualify for an individual event in Paris after failing to secure a spot in the 100 free. At a June meet in Rome, Oleksiak needed to swim below the 53.61 Olympic A qualifying standard but went 53.77 in the B Final.
Change in training program
"For the first time at this Olympics, I'm going to have that little bit of alleviated pressure, because I think when you're on a relay [team] and you're surrounded by other girls, it really does take that pressure off, and you don't feel as lonely when you're in the ready room," Oleksiak told Heroux before the start of the Paris competition.
A change in training seemed to work for Oleksiak, who clocked 54.43 at the Canadian Open this past April, her first competition in Canada in nearly two years.
Oleksiak's personal-best time of 52.59 in the event from the Tokyo Games remains a Canadian record.
At 16, she rose to stardom, winning four medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics in 2016 and added three in Tokyo.
Now, with the confidence she can return to form following injury, Oleksiak has pondered competing at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles when there was a time Paris was thought to be her final Games.
But first, a potential eighth gold is up for grabs in the City of Light.
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With files from Devin Heroux, CBC Sports
