2021 Olympic Trials

Swimming Canada’s primary selection event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic teams was scheduled to run May 24-28 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (“TPASC”).

“In light of the state of emergency and stay-at-home order in Ontario, as well as travel restrictions in and out of other provinces, Swimming Canada’s board of directors, in consultation with management, has determined that the May dates for Trials are no longer viable,” said President Cheryl Gibson, who led an emergency board meeting to review the situation Monday evening. “We have therefore asked management to explore plans to hold the Trials in June.”

“The Olympic Trials will now be held at TPASC June 19-23, replacing the previously scheduled Invitational Qualifier. Swimming Canada is also pursuing options for holding the Trials elsewhere in North America should running the event in Toronto not be viable based on factors at the time. The dates would remain the same in an alternate location. A decision of whether to move the event, if possible, will be made by the end of May or sooner,” said CEO Ahmed El-Awadi.

“We understand the great strain governments, provinces, and municipalities have been under in Canada and this is in no way a judgement of their hard work and having to constantly change almost on a daily basis during the pandemic. Our goal is to provide an opportunity for the athletes to race prior to the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games”

“The Paralympic Trials portion is cancelled for Toronto and this year and we will create alternative competitive opportunities as the new June dates conflict with a World Para-swimming event in Berlin. The respective selection committees will follow-up with athletes in both the Olympic and Paralympic participant groups on official clarification of selection procedures in the coming days,” El-Awadi added.

Swimming Canada will also work with its provincial sections, where possible, to sanction racing opportunities around late May/early June, being cognizant of the fact some regions and provinces may not be allowed to hold events due to public health regulations. This would allow athletes who have been training to peak at that time to post potential qualifying times for the Olympic Games and/or Paralympic Games subject to approval from International Federations.

“The Swimming Canada Olympic Program selection committee has already invoked the ‘unexpected circumstances’ clause in our criteria to select the Olympic team, and the selection committee for the Paralympic Program will be meeting to consider the implications of the decisions,” said High Performance Director and National Coach John Atkinson. “The Olympic selection committee will work to determine the best methodology to nominate the team under this clause. We are now looking at other ways to create opportunities for swimmers to post official times to stand for consideration. We are considering all options to choose the best teams to represent Canada in the fairest way possible under very difficult circumstances. We will leave no stone unturned as we work to give our athletes the best possible opportunities to race and a chance to represent Canada.”

“This is another difficult decision in a series of difficult decisions over the past year-plus,” added CEO Ahmed El-Awadi. “Making changes to an event of this scale is an incredibly complex undertaking with many variables. We are working with multiple levels of government, sport partners, public health organizations, laws, regulations, athletes and coaches, facilities such as TPASC and provincial sections that are each facing different realities. More communication will be held with Paralympic and Olympic trials invitees and coaches in due course. We thank our community for their patience and adaptability over the past few months and look forward to seeing fast swimming again soon.”

Inside the Games: https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1107213/canadian-swimming-trials-tokyo-2020#.YIqeyv2C-30.twitter

SwimSwam: https://swimswam.com/swimming-canada-postpones-2021-olympic-trials-again-this-time-to-june/

Swimming World: https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/swimming-canada-postpones-trials-to-june-will-look-at-new-venue-options/

CBC Sports: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/aquatics/olympic-swimming-trials-postponed-1.6006276

Updated January 23, 2021

Swimming Canada: SIX SWIMMERS PROVISIONALLY NOMINATED TO REPRESENT TEAM CANADA AT TOKYO 2020

TORONTO (January 22, 2021) – On Friday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Swimming Canada provisionally nominated six athletes to represent Team Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games from July 23 to August 8.

As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, Swimming Canada has invoked the unexpected circumstances clause of its Olympic team nomination criteria, and is postponing the Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials until late May. Swimming Canada will also plan a supplementary Olympic qualifying opportunity in June.

The clause allows the Swimming Canada Selection Committee to determine if unexpected or unusual circumstances have arisen during the process of applying these Criteria and have the full and absolute discretion to resolve the matter as it sees fit, taking into account factors and circumstances that it deems relevant. Any such exercise of discretion shall be subject to the Canadian administrative law principles of fairness.

The following swimmers have been provisionally nominated by Swimming Canada’s Selection Committee for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, for the following specific individual events:

Kylie Masse (Lasalle, Ontario), 100m and 200m backstroke

Margaret Mac Neil (London, Ontario), 100m butterfly

Penny Oleksiak (Toronto, Ontario), 200m freestyle

Sydney Pickrem (Halifax, Nova Scotia), 200m breaststroke, 200m and 400m individual medley

Taylor Ruck (Kelowna, British Columbia), 100m freestyle

Markus Thormeyer (Delta, British Columbia), 200m backstroke

“It’s definitely a different way to be named to the Olympic team, but it’s still exciting,” Masse said. “It’s been a challenging year so it’s nice to have a little bit of certainty in a time of so much uncertainty. I’m grateful that Swimming Canada and the COC have provisionally nominated me. I can’t wait to continue to work towards Tokyo to represent Canada.”

These athletes were medallists or Canada’s top placing individual finalists in these events at the 2019 FINA World Championships, where Team Canada swam to eight podium finishes, including two gold and six bronze, a best-ever performance for the country.

“Things have been shifting constantly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we realize how tough it has been for our athletes,” said Swimming Canada’s High Performance Director and National Coach, John Atkinson. “Provisionally nominating these six athletes allows them, as our top-ranked known performers who have had international success at the world level, to have some certainty as we approach being ready to swim at the Games in the summer of 2021. We are delighted to announce the six athletes provisionally nominated today. These athletes have proved themselves and we congratulate them on this significant step toward the Tokyo Games.”

These athletes would be expected to compete at the Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials, presented by Bell, which are being rescheduled for May 24-28 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. With the provisional nominations being limited to a maximum of one per event, no event is closed for nomination, and at least one spot per event remains available to be contested at the Trials.

Swimming Canada announced in December that the invitation-only Trials would take place April 7-11, but a review of the public health situation and how it relates to the ability to provide a safe environment for all participants determined it would be unsafe to proceed with these dates.

“Ever since Team Canada’s historic performances in the pool at Rio 2016, Canadian swimmers have continued to impress, including the six athletes provisionally nominated today. I look forward to seeing them build on that momentum at Tokyo 2020.” said COC CEO and Secretary General, David Shoemaker. “We thank Swimming Canada and the swimming community for their resilience, flexibility, and commitment to health and safety on the road to Tokyo.”

“The pandemic continues to dictate some of our decisions, and limit what we can and can’t do. While we want to keep as many options open as possible, we have to adapt to the constraints that are thrust upon us by the pandemic,” said Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi. “What is being presented today allows us to have more options in an uncertain situation. It gives us greater ability to nominate the best teams to represent Canada, and it gives the athletes greater ability to train and compete to make Team Canada.”

The rescheduled Trials would follow the same invitation-only format, with a maximum of 20 athletes per Olympic event and 15 athletes per Paralympic event, contested as timed finals. The acceptance process for the Olympic program athletes invited to the trials will now recommence and athletes contacted to reconfirm decisions. The new May dates also allow Canada’s men’s 4×100-m and 4×200-m freestyle relays to race and post times to be considered for Olympic qualification before the FINA/IOC deadline of May 31.

“Since the announcement in December, our athletes, coaches, clubs, universities and training programs have been facing many challenging circumstances. The mandates and orders in place in our provinces are affecting many of the invited athletes’ ability to train and compete, both key factors in their ongoing preparations for Trials and also toward the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Atkinson said.

“The decision to delay the Olympic and Paralympic Trials will allow potential Olympic and Paralympic athletes to have an extra seven weeks of training preparation. We also hope for the organization of competitions to be planned in order to allow the invited athletes the opportunity to race before the Trials if possible.”

Swimming Canada intends to use the Trials as the primary opportunity to select its Olympic team, and final opportunity to select its Paralympic team. Aurelie Rivard, Tess Routliffe, Katarina Roxon, Shelby Newkirk, Aly Van Wyck-Smart, Nicolas-Guy Turbide, James Leroux and Alec Elliot have already met the standard required for nomination to the Canadian Paralympic Committee as 2019 World Para Swimming Championships medallists.

Associate High Performance Director Wayne Lomas expects to be able to fill the remaining 11 Paralympic team positions (eight female, three male) based on performances at Trials.

“COVID-19 has challenged every member of the community, but it has also taught us to be nimble and able to adapt,” Lomas said. “From the outset, we have designed a process that recognizes swimmers’ performances at international events and also at the Trials event.”

An additional invitational qualifying meet will also be planned as an opportunity for potential Olympic athletes June 21 to 23 at TPASC.

“The primary purpose of our selection criteria is to select the athletes who have the best chance of winning a medal for Canada at the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Atkinson said. “As we are now nearly a year into the unexpected circumstances created by the global COVID-19 pandemic, we believe this plan gives us the best chance to select the best teams to represent Canada, in the fairest possible way considering the circumstances.”

The unexpected circumstances clause will also be used to decide Canada’s final two representatives at the Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier scheduled for May 29-30 in Fukuoka, Japan. More details will follow as they are available from FINA.

In the event the Trials are unable to proceed, Swimming Canada reserves the right to further apply the unexpected circumstances clause to team selection.

“The board of Swimming Canada has challenged management to be adaptable, and that has never been more important than during this global pandemic,” said Swimming Canada President Cheryl Gibson. “Our organization, and the wider swimming community, must be prepared to adapt rapidly to the evolving environment. We are focused on providing our athletes with the best training and competition opportunities available in the circumstances in order to enable our teams to achieve their incredible potential.”

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the COC’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.

SWIMSWAM: SIX SWIMMERS NOMINATED TO CANADIAN OLYMPIC TEAM; TRIALS MOVED BACK TO MAY

https://swimswam.com/six-swimmers-nominated-to-canadian-olympic-team-trials-moved-back-to-may/

SWIMMING WORLD: Swimming Canada Names Early Olympians; Delays Trials to May

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/swimming-canada-names-early-olympians-delays-trials-to-may/

CBC SPORTS: Penny Oleksiak, Kylie Masse among 6 swimmers named to Canadian Olympic team

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/aquatics/swimming-canada-team-provisional-nominations-1.5884220

TORONTO SUN: Six Canadian swimmers named to Olympic team ahead of national trials

https://torontosun.com/sports/olympics/six-canadian-swimmers-named-to-olympic-team-ahead-of-national-trials

Updated January 22, 2020

Swimming Canada: Notice for the 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Swimming Trials:

Please be advised that Swimming Canada has temporarily paused the invitation process to the 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Trials for the

Olympic Program following the completion of the first round of invitations.

Details on the resumption of the process will be announced shortly.

Updated January 16, 2020

Swimming Canada: After following a strict protocol in the wake of Friday’s temporary closure of the High Performance Centre – Ontario, the majority of swimmers returned to training Tuesday, January 12.

https://www.swimming.ca/en/news/2021/01/12/high-performance-centre-reopens-under-return-to-training-plan/

Updated January 10, 2020

Swimming Canada: Due to a member of the training group testing positive for COVID-19, Swimming Canada is temporarily closing its High Performance Centre – Ontario.

This precautionary measure is in line with Swimming Canada’s Return to Swimming protocols, as well as Government of Ontario and City of Toronto health and safety regulations.

Upon being informed that the member of the training group was experiencing symptoms, the person was immediately removed from the group, underwent a test that day and has been isolating. Protocols include strict monitoring of daily attendance, allowing all close contacts to be isolated. Testing of close contacts began within hours. As yet there is no evidence of transmission at the pool.

The centre will remain closed until further notice. Swimming Canada will continue to follow its Return to Swimming protocols, and adhere to all government and facility regulations.

Statement Re: Ontario High Performance Centre

Swim Swam: HPC-Ontario Temporarily Closing After Athlete Tests Positive for Covid-19

Swimming World: Positive COVID-19 Test Shuts Down Canadian High Performance Centre in Ontario

Swimming Canada: January 6 list of 2021 Olympic Trials Invitations (Top 20 only)

SwimSwam: Swimming Canada will be running a reduced capacity Olympic Trials with 20 swimmers for each event swimming in a timed finals format. The Trials will run from April 7-11, 2021 in Toronto. Following a preliminary list of Canada’s top 30 swimmers in each event, invites have now been sent to the top 20 swimmers in each event. As per the invite, swimmers will have until January 15th to accept their invitation to the meet. Swimming Canada Sends Out Invites for 2021 Olympic Trials

Updated January 3, 2021

In light of the COVID 19 pandemic concerns and decisions made by national and provincial governments, Swimming Canada has announced a modified plan for the 2021 Olympic Trials. The trials are slated for Toronto PanAm Sports Centre April 7-11, 2021.

A safe, interesting and carefully planned program.

Some articles to read:

Swim Canada: https://www.swimming.ca/en/news/2020/12/07/invitational-trials-among-changes-to-2021-calendar/

Swim Canada: https://www.swimming.ca/content/uploads/2019/11/Key-Points-for-Modified-2020-Olympic-Paralympic-Swimming-Trials.pdf

Swim Swam: https://swimswam.com/why-the-canadian-olympic-trials-will-be-a-timed-final-invitational/

CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/aquatics/swimming-canada-trials-invitation-only-1.5832014

Swimming World: https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/swimming-canada-announces-shift-to-invitational-for-canadian-olympic-trials/

Here’s the first Top 30 List (published as of December 18, 2020)

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/swimming-canada-releases-preliminary-top-30-lists-for-canadian-olympic-trials/

& here: https://www.swimming.ca/content/uploads/2019/11/Invitation-Ranking-List-TOP-30.pdf

Meet Package (as of December 11, 2020)