How life outside swimming has revived 7-time Olympic medallist Oleksiak’s love for sport
Since departing the Tokyo Olympics without a swimming medal a few months ago, Penny Oleksiak has been keeping busy and making the most of her time. The Canadian swimmer recently reached new heights by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, a feat she never imagined she would achieve. Over the course of eight days, Oleksiak hiked four to six hours a day and reached an elevation of 19,000 feet. She described the experience as incredible, being immersed in the culture of East Africa and learning about the charity work being done in the region.
In addition to her mountain climbing adventure, Oleksiak has also been involved in charity work with her sponsor, Natural Calm Canada. Together, they raised about $90,000 US for Thrive for Good, a charity that helps people living in poverty create sustainable, organic gardens for nutrition and income generation. Oleksiak expressed how important it is for her to have a life outside of swimming and how these experiences help her appreciate the sport even more.
As she looks ahead to the next Olympics in Los Angeles, Oleksiak is excited to compete at her fourth Games and is eager to get back into the pool. She will be representing Canada at the short course championships in Budapest, Hungary, where she will race in the 50- and 100-metre freestyle events, as well as multiple relays. Since recovering from a knee injury, Oleksiak has been racing more frequently and is determined to make a strong comeback.
Reflecting on her performance at the Paris Olympics, Oleksiak admitted that it was the most challenging experience she has faced in her career. Despite not qualifying for an individual event, she contributed to the 4x100m medley relay heats with a spectacular freestyle leg that helped secure victory for Canada. However, she was disappointed to be left out of the final, where the team finished fourth. This setback has fueled her motivation to make a statement at the next Olympics in Los Angeles and strive for an impressive performance.
As Canada’s most decorated female Olympian, Oleksiak is determined to continue making a mark in the swimming world and is excited for what the future holds. Her dedication to the sport, combined with her passion for giving back to the community, showcases her as a true role model both in and out of the pool.
