2025 World Championships
- July 27-August 3, 2025 (Pool Swimming)
- Singapore, Singapore
- World Aquatics Championship Arena
- LCM (50 meters)
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Oliver Dawson elevated his game in Singapore, breaking the Canadian 15-17 National Age Group record in the men’s 200 breast twice at the World Championships.
The record going into the meet was 2:11.25, a time set by Dawson at the 2025 Canadian Trials. He wasted no time bettering that swim in Singapore, and went 2:11.07 in the heats of the 200 breast.
That swim, already a new Canadian 15-17 NAG record in the event, cleared Dawson for takeoff in the semifinals. He touched the wall in 2:10.32, re-setting his record for the third time in two months.
Dawson’s improvements were found in his first and last 50s. His first 50 at June’s Canadian Trials was 30.11. In Singapore, he was out in 29.58 in the heats, then in 29.49 in the semis. He tied it together with improvements in his final 50. In his semi-final swim, Dawson was home in 33.42, quicker than he was in the heats (33.80) and at Canadian Trials (34.15).
Splits Comparison
| Old Record | Record from Heats | New Record from Semis | |
| 50m | 30.11 | 29.58 | 29.49 |
| 100m | 33.43 (1:03.54) | 33.97 (1:03.55) | 33.81 (1:03.30) |
| 150m | 33.56 (1:37.10) | 33.72 (1:37.27) | 33.60 (1:36.90) |
| 200m | 34.15 (2:11.25) | 33.80 (2:11.07) | 33.42 (2:10.32) |
His swim in the semis placed him 11th place, and propelled him to 5th on the all-time 17 & under world rankings in the event:
All-Time Performers, Boys’ 17 & Under 200 Breaststroke (LCM)
- Shin Ohashi (JPN) – 2:06.91, 2025
- Filip Nowacki (GBR) – 2:08.32, 2025
- Josh Matheny (USA) – 2:09.40, 2019
- Doruk Yogurtcuoglu (TUR) – 2:09.92, 2025
- Oliver Dawson (CAN) – 2:10.32, 2025
- Alexander Zhigalov (RUS) – 2:10.36, 2019
- Ippei Miyamoto (JPN) – 2:10.51, 2016
- Daniel Gyurta (HUN) – 2:10.75, 2004
- Reece Whitley (USA) – 2:10.82, 2017
- Yuta Arai (JPN) – 2:10.84, 2019
The swim makes Dawson the 3rd fastest Canadian performer in history in the men’s 200 breaststroke.
Top Five Canadian Men’s 200 LCM Breaststroke Performances of All-Time
- Mike Brown – 2:08.84, 2008
- James Dergousoff – 2:10.01, 2003
- Oliver Dawson – 2:10.32, 2025
- Ashton Baumann – 2:10.69, 2016
- Brayden Taivassalo – 2:10.89, 2023
Dawson took home a bronze medal at Worlds after swimming the breast leg on the Canadian mixed 4×100 medley relay, and competed in the men’s 50 breaststroke, where he went a personal best of 27.55 to place 32nd in the heats. He currently swims with the Grande Prairie Piranhas in Alberta, Canada, and is committed to swim at Indiana University.
It’s great just to have a breaststroker with really good potential.Most countries don’t and its a relay killer in the medleys.He has had a great meet at a young age.Both him and Ethan Ekk give Canada 2 more swimmers who can compete at the highest level.Our male swim team is improving a lot lately.
Great swims. Crazy that 4/5 top all time are set in the last ~month!