Canada’s powerhouse swim team faces great anticipation at the World Aquatics Championships
When Canadian divers, swimmers and water polo players headed to Fukuoka, Japan 22 years ago to compete in the 2001 World Aquatics Championships, it was agreed and accepted that podium performances were likely to be few and far between.
And that’s exactly what happened.
Athletes from Canada ended up winning just five medals over the two weeks of competition – there were two diving medals, two synchronized swimming medals, and the women’s water polo team won bronze.
Canadian swimmers failed to reach the podium.
But times have changed over the past two decades and now great expectations are set into this summer’s worlds led by a powerful team of 30 Canadian swimmers.
It is also the first chance for athletes to qualify for quota places for Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics next summer. Athletes who finish in the top-12 in the individual events and top-three in the synchro events on worlds will secure their nation’s spots at the Games.
Mia Vallée, who trains in Miami but originally from Beaconsfield, Que. was the standout Canadian diver in Budapest at the world championships last summer and surprised many by winning silver in the 3m and bronze in the 1m. It was the first time a woman had finished on the podium in two individual events at the same world championships.
“I haven’t felt my best this year with all the pressure from my performance last year at worlds. I was this underdog and won these medals. It’s not easy, I’ve never had so much pressure,” Vallée told CBC Sport.
‘Expectations. It’s mainly my own expectations. That pressure gnawed at me.”
LOOK | Path to Paris, with Canadian diver Mia Vallée:
Watch the Path to Paris feature on Canadian diver Mia Vallée from Beaconsfield, Que.
Vallée is trying to find some of that same composure and fun she had on last year’s worlds to help her get back on stage this summer.
“I would like to medal again. I think I have a good chance in the 1 meter,” she said.
“I think I’ll keep expectations low and enjoy the moment.”
Vallée teams up with Pam Ware in the synchro event. They recently took part in the World Cup in Montreal and won bronze there.
LOOK | Vallee, Ware claims bronze in Montreal:
Canada’s Pam Ware and Mia Vallée dived for bronze medals in the 3m synchro final at the World Cup for Watersports Diving in Montreal on Friday.
The other Canadian medal at last year’s world championships came from synchro duo Rylan Weins and Nathan Zsombor-Murray. They captured bronze in the 10m synchro event and became the first Canadian men’s team to reach the podium in the platform event.
“It just clicked right away. Last year was our first full year. Budapest was our second ever event and we won bronze. And then we won silver at the Commonwealth Games,” said Weins.
“It’s been a great year and we’ve got our sights set on the podium again. I’d be super happy with anything on the podium.”
Zsombor-Murray credits their friendship outside the pool because they have undeniable chemistry while diving.
“We push each other and we keep getting better,” he said.
Kate Miller and Elaena Dick make their senior World Cup debut in Fukuoka. Caeli McKay and Bryden Hattie are also part of the Canadian dive team heading to Japan.
For the first time ever, Canada is sending five divers to a World Championship and there is a lot of optimism heading into the competition, led by Molly Carlson who takes a gold medal at the High Diving World Cup to be held in May in Fort Lauderdale.
Jessica Macaulay, who won bronze at the same event, Simon Leathead and Aimee Harrison will join Carlson on worlds.
LOOK | Canada’s Greatest Moments at the World Aquatics Championships:
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From two-time World Champion Victor Davis to young phenom Summer McIntosh, Scott Russell looks back at Canada’s most memorable moments during the World Aquatics Championships.
Canada will have a male compete in worlds in high diving for the first time. Michael Foisy earned a last-minute qualifying spot with a standout performance at the World Cup in Fort Lauderdale.
Artistic swimming starts on the first day of competition and runs through the first week of the worlds. The Canadians are coming off a silver medal in the acrobatic routine to close out the World Cup superfinal in Oviedo, Spain, in early June.
Water polo starts on the second day of competition and lasts until the penultimate day of competition. The Canadian women open against Hungary while the men play against China in their first game.
This is a chance for Canada’s water polo teams to earn tickets to the Paris Olympic Games. It won’t be easy though, as only the finalists earn places at the Games.
McIntosh leads swim team
That all leads up to the big finish in the pool, as the swim meet takes the spotlight to close worlds.
Many have said this is the golden generation for Canadian swimming with talent and depth unlike any other in the program’s history.
The team is led by 16-year-old phenom Summer McIntosh, who broke two world records during the trials last April, along with five Canadian and junior world records.
McIntosh will be joined by the likes of Maggie Mac Neil, Kyle Masse, Josh Liendo, Finlay Knox, Katerine Savard, Taylor Ruck and many others who will be joining the pool in Fukuoka from July 23.
LOOK | Swim trials offered a glimpse into Canada’s ‘golden generation of swimming’:
CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux summarizes Canada’s swimming trials, highlighted by Toronto teen Summer McIntosh, who broke 5 records in the pool.
