Swimming Canada

Swimming Canada is the national governing body for competitive swimming in Canada. It oversees the management of 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 in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, 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 country.

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. Following this debut, the Canadian Olympic team has brought swimmers to each Games since then, except for the 1980 Games in Moscow due to the 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. 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. 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.

Many 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.

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. 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.

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