Canadian swimming icon Penny Oleksiak earns relay spot and ticket to third Olympics
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She is the most decorated Canadian Olympian in history, and Penny Oleksiak has earned her way to Paris for a third Games and an opportunity to further add to that gold, silver and bronze legacy.
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Canadian swimming icon Penny Oleksiak earns relay spot and ticket to third Olympics Back to video
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But Canada’s former star of the pool isn’t exactly returning with the fanfare — or as of now, anyway, the elite form — that has made her such a swimming sensation.
Even with her win in the 100-metre freestyle event at the Canadian Olympic Trials on Friday night, the disappointment was evident in the reaction of the 23-year-old Torontonian after she touched the wall in 53.65 seconds, agonizingly shy of the 53:61 Olympic qualifying standard.
Winning the race was at least enough to secure a spot on the 4×100 metre relay team, an event that has added to her Olympic medal collection. Oleksiak was a force in the group of Canadian women that swam to what was considered a breakthrough bronze at the 2016 Rio Games and again for an upgraded silver five years later at the Tokyo Olympics.
For now, however, Oleksiak has not qualified for an individual event, the continuation of what has been a rugged journey for her over the past three years. Since the Tokyo Games, Oleksiak has fought through injuries while also moving to California to train and, over the past two years, seeking to return to her competitive best.
“I’m excited to go,” Oleksiak said an hour after the race, which gave her time to regroup and boost her morale by signing autographs for dozens of young swimmers who still justifiably revere her for all the good she’s done for the sport in this country.
“I’m excited to be part of the team. Obviously, I really want that individual spot, so I’m going to do everything I can to try to secure it. I’m just excited to be part of the team right now. It definitely takes the weight off of my shoulders that I’m going.”
Still, Oleksiak was clearly dismayed with her effort in the 200-metre free earlier in the week, following a dramatic fade to finish in an un-Penny like ninth spot.
After that disappointment, Oleksiak vowed that “my story is not over yet,” leading to Friday’s big opportunity for the seven-time Olympic medallist to secure a spot in an individual race that has brought her so much glory.
After leading most of the way, a quick glance at the clock at the Toronto Pan Am Games Centre immediately brought a look of dejection as the time was well off the Canadian record of 52:59 she set with a fourth-place finish at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
Swimming Canada officials have remained hopeful Oleksiak will channel some of the competitive brilliance that first emerged in 2016 in Brazil. There, the then-16-year-old became the first Canadian athlete to win four medals at a single Summer Games, setting an Olympic record when she tied for gold in the 100-metre free.
“Where Penny is, she has been improving every time she races,” Swimming Canada’s high performance director and head coach John Atkinson said earlier in the week.
That’s very much in line with how she’s competed during her career. And now it remains to be seen if she can continue to improve enough to be a factor in France.
In the past, Atkinson and other Swimming Canada coaches have lauded Oleksiak for being a “racer” — an elite athlete with a keen sense for the magnitude of the moment, matched by an ability to deliver.
There were certainly signs that some of that strong form was returning. While not good enough for an individual berth in Paris, Friday’s effort was Oleksiak’s swiftest in two years and at least punched a ticket to Paris. Should she continue to improve her times over the next 10 weeks, the possibility remains for her to swim an important leg in that event in Paris and help the Canadian women to a third medal in as many Games.
As much as Oleksiak was the star of Canadian swimming after Rio and heading into Tokyo, the runway to Paris belongs to young Summer McIntosh, who at 17 is a year older than her one-time idol was in Rio.
But even with her personal disappointment in the results here this week, it’s important to remember that Oleksiak’s influence on the Canadian program remains “massive,” in the words of one of her decorated teammates.
“She is the catalyst for the moment and the success within the program,” backstroke specialist Kylie Masse said on Friday. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without her and her performances back in 2016 and all the way through.
“You never know what people are going through or what people are doing. It’s a testament to her character to continue to be here and continue to push to try to get back to the level she was at before.”
As far as grabbing an individual spot, there are options to swim to the Olympic qualifying standard, which must be done prior to June 23 to qualify via that route. The top Canadian meet that fits is the Mel Zajac Jr. invitational in Vancouver from June 21-23. As well, there is the possibility of a provisional nomination based on World Aquatics approval and invitation.
“We’ll see,” Oleksiak said when asked about the possibility. “I’ve definitely had a lot happening, but I’m excited to be here and excited to race. I just want to get better for the summer.”
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