17-Year-Old Canadian Ella Jansen Cements Status as Rising Star at Future College Home

PRO SWIM SERIES – KNOXVILLE

Ella Jansen gave the University of Tennessee a taste of what’s coming to campus in the fall of 2024 while competing at the Pro Swim Series stop this week in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The 17-year-old Canadian etched her name into the national record books with her 100 butterfly victory in 58.92, which came on the back end of a tough 200 free/100 fly double on Thursday night. It was her first time sub-59 in the event, lowering her previous best of 59.27 set last March.

The new lifetime best moved Jansen up to No. 5 in Canada’s 15-17 age group rankings.

Canadian Girls’ 15-17 All-Time Rankings, 100 Butterfly (LCM)

  1. Penny Oleksiak (Toronto Swim Club), 56.46 – 2016 Olympic Games
  2. Noemie Thomas (UBC Dolphins Swim Club), 57.96 – 2013 Fran Crippen Meet
  3. Katerine Savard (Club De Natation CSQ), 57.97 – 2011 World Trials
  4. Rebecca Smith (Scarborough Swim Club), 58.07 – 2017 World Junior Championships
  5. Ella Jansen (Etobicoke Swim Club), 58.92 – 2023 Pro Swim Series – Knoxville
  6. Hanna Henderson (Etobicoke Swim Club), 59.06 – 2019 World Junior Championships
  7. Summer McIntosh (Etobicoke Swim Club), 59.28 – 2022 Souther Zone Section
  8. Mabel Zavaros (Oakville Aquatic Club), 59.29 – 2017 Pro Swim Series – Atlanta
  9. Maggie MacNeil (London Aquatic Club), 59.54 – 2017 Mel Zajac International
  10. Hannah Genich (Scarborough Swim Club), 59.69 – 2016 ASA Summer Championships

Jansen is also now the 12th-fastest Canadian of all time in the event. Before she first broke the one-minute barrier last March, her best time in 2021 was a 1:01.25 and her previous best from 2020 was a 1:02.11.

On Saturday, Jansen set another personal best in the 100 free, reaching the wall in 56.21 to lower her previous-best mark of 56.59 from last April. On Friday, she claimed third place in the 200 fly in 2:12.62 after leading for the first 150 meters of the race.

The Etobicoke Swimming product showed off her versatility by nearly lowering her lifetime best in the 200 free with a 1:59.08 during the first leg of Thursday’s double, coming just .15 seconds shy of her personal best from last March.

At Ontario Junior Internationals last month, Jansen clocked three times that would have made A-finals at last month’s Short Course World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

Jansen posted a 1:53.35 in the 200 free, which would have qualified second and placed eighth in the final. She also went 8:16.36 in the 800 free and 4:29.79 in the 400 IM, both of which would have placed fifth at Short Course Worlds.

Summer McIntosh will likely never take her talents to the NCAA, but fortunately for fans of college swimming, Canada’s next-best young prospect seems slated to burst onto the scene next year.

In This Story

15
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

15 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
be fr
1 year ago

being around her is so inspiring. she is incredibly driven and focused. training beside her is humbling, she is incredible. douthwright, rathwell, and now jansen (all from canada) at tennesse is insane! watch out for the lady vols!!

Curious
Reply to  be fr
1 year ago

World Champ Tess Cieplucha as well

VFL
1 year ago

This class is gonna be special!

Crooks popped off a 22.4 last night. Her and Josie Connelly have combined for three 21 point splits over the last two months as well.

Lady Vols-2025 National Champions 😏

USA
Reply to  VFL
1 year ago

They need to learn how to peak at NCAA’s first 😉

VFL
Reply to  USA
1 year ago

We’ll see how this year goes 😅

Curious
1 year ago

Impressive talent joining a fast group of classes for the Vols

Bud
1 year ago

“The Etobicoke Swimming product showed off her versatility by nearly lowering her lifetime best in the 200 free with a 1:53.35 during the first leg of Thursday’s double, coming just .15 seconds shy of her personal best from last March.”
The results say she went 1:59.08. 1:53.35 would be sensational and put her on WR watch effective immediately

Last edited 1 year ago by Bud
Admin
Reply to  Bud
1 year ago

Read the paragraph before that.

bella sims #1 fan
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

Not sure if it’s the sleep deprivation or if I’m just illiterate, but something’s not clicking here 💀

Admin
Reply to  bella sims #1 fan
1 year ago

Those are her short course meters times from the Ontario Junior International in December, which would have made A finals at the Short Course World Championships.

Gen D
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

The way i understood the paragraph was that the 200 being referred to was the one she swam at the pro series, which was long course, so to slot her 200 scm pb didn’t really make sense.

The second time her 1’53 was mentioned was fine. It’s the first one that looks like a typo

Observer
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

Impressive times. I think what’s confusing people is the article says she swam the 1:53 200 free as part of “Thursday’s double” in Knoxville, which was a LCM meet.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

Braden – there is a typo. The 1:53 is mentioned twice, the first time it’s a typo.

Prairiefast
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

Looks like the 5th paragraph, mentioning results from this weekend, lists her 200fr at 1:53.

Admin
Reply to  Prairiefast
1 year ago

Oh gotcha – I was looking at the penultimate paragraph. Fixed, thanks!

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

Read More »