Swimming Canada

Swimming Canada is the Canadian national governing body for competitive swimming in the country. It oversees the management of all swim programs throughout the nation and provides the foundation for beginner-level athletes to train towards the elite level, with the chance to attend world championships and the Olympic Games. Following a shocking performance at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Swimming Canada aims to provide the resources and structure to all-things related to competitive swimming. The national headquarters is located in Ottawa, Ontario, with staff dispersed throughout the entire country.[1]

History

The Canadian Amateur Swimming Association was established in 1909, after the preliminary appearance of a Canadian swimmer at the London 1908 Olympic Games. Robert Zimmerman of Montreal was the first Canadian Swimmer to appear at any Olympic Games, competing in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, and springboard Diving.[2] Following this debut, the Canadian Olympic team has brought swimmers to each Games since then, except for the 1980 Games in Moscow, due to a government boycott. Over the past 100 years, Canadian swimmers have earned over 40 medals at the Olympic games, as well as many other successes through World Championship competitions.[3] The Rio Olympic Games in 2016 marks a historical showing for Swimming Canada, exceeding expectations and establishing new goals to be achieved in the future 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The women’s swim team earned a total of six medals out of the twenty-two that were earned as a combined total for all of Team Canada throughout the Games. Four of the six medals were earned by budding athlete Penny Oleksiak, just 16 years old and already achieving the title of the only Canadian to win 4 medals in a single Olympic Games.[4]

Meets

Many diverse events and structures form the organization of Swimming Canada. The organization works with local club teams, university teams and national select teams, as well as community members to make annual events possible.

  • Canadian Swimming Championships: Senior national championship swim meet. Swimmers may range from Olympic athletes to rising Olympic potential who have all qualified for the national time standards (50M) established for that year.[5]
  • Age Group Championships: A competition divided by gender, for swimmers 18 years and younger. Created for motivated athletes striving to be at the elite-level. This is typically a season-ending, long course (50M) competition that occurs annually at the end of July/beginning of August. Similar to the national competition, swimmers need to qualify for time standards established for their age and that apply to that year of competition.[6]
  • Trials: The annual competition which results in the selection of the Senior National and Junior National Canadian teams. During the Olympic year this competition will determine the selection for the Canadian Olympic team. This also requires time standards to be met in order to compete and is typically swam long course as well. During an Olympic year the top two people who qualify for FINA A time standards will make the Olympic Team and those events which qualify for a relay (100, 200 Free) will take the top four swimmers to the Games.[7]
  • Canadian Olympic & Para-Swimming Trails: This competition takes place every four years to determine the selection for the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic swim team.[8]
  • Speedo Eastern Open: In addition to national championship competitions, Swimming Canada pairs with local organizing committees to run a regional open meet. This meet is for Eastern Canadian clubs and swimmers where specific time standards are established for that area. These meets offer a competitive environment to prepare for trials, exposure to more elite competitions and provides an opportunity to prepare for larger competitions later in the year.[9]
  • Speedo Western Open: Once again, Swimming Canada pairs with local organizing committees to run two regional open meets. This meet is for Western Canadian clubs and swimmers who have their own individual standards as well. These meets offer a competitive environment to prepare for trials, be exposed to more elite competitions and prepare for larger competitions later in the year.[10]

Team Canada

The national team is selected every year at Swimming Canada’s Trials competition, and every four years those members form the Olympic team. Team Canada has continued to improve in world rankings over the past decade, especially emphasized with the spectacular performances of the women’s team in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.[11] Beginning in 1912, George Hodgson won Canada’s first two Olympic swimming medals and set a world record in the 1500 meter freestyle. Later, Elaine Tanner became the first Canadian to win three swimming medals at the Mexico 1968 Olympic Games. Swimming has historically contributed largely to the medal count of the Canadian team at the Olympic games, and in 1976, Canadian swimmers accounted for 8 of the total 11 medals in the Montreal Olympic Games. Team Canada represents the highest achieving athletes throughout the nation by promoting and encouraging a healthy, safe and athletic lifestyle. [12]

References

  1. ↑ Communications, Government of Canada; Canadian Heritage;. "Swimming". canada.pch.gc.ca.
  2. ↑ Schrodt, Barbara. "Speed Swimming". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  3. ↑ "History". Swimming Canada.
  4. ↑ Robertson, Grant. "How Canada's women's swim team got back on the podium". The Globe and Mail.
  5. ↑ "Live & Upcoming Meets". Swimming Canada.
  6. ↑ "Live & Upcoming Meets". Swimming Canada.
  7. ↑ "Swimming Canada Significantly Changes Competition Structure - Swimming World News". Swimming World News. 21 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Live & Upcoming Meets". Swimming Canada.
  9. ↑ "Live & Upcoming Meets". Swimming Canada.
  10. ↑ "Live & Upcoming Meets". Swimming Canada.
  11. ↑ Robertson, Grant. "How Canada's women's swim team got back on the podium". The Globe and Mail.
  12. ↑ "National Teams". Swimming Canada.
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