Coming into these World Championships the Canadian squad had high expectations. Coming off a terrific performance at the Pan Am Games, where they were just four medals behind the United States in swimming events (and had more than Brazil who brought their entire national team minus Cesar Cielo), the expectations were sky high. There was certainly the expectation that they would improve upon their performance from the 2013 World Championships.
One thing vastly different about the Canadian team this year is that the selection criteria to make the team this year was much more demanding, therefore they had a much smaller team than in years past. They had to qualify based off of specific time standards set by Swim Canada, whereas in 2013 the standards were much less competitive to qualify for the team. In 2013 Canada brought 34 swimmers, and this year they brought just 20.
With the team almost half as big as two years ago it is difficult to gauge their performance based off numbers, but we have to look at them. In 2013 they had 6 national records, 11 finals appearances and 3 medals. This year we have seen just 4 national records, 9 finals appearances and 2 medals. Despite the numbers not looking so good, we have seen some great performances from the Canadians nonetheless. The women’s relays have always been strong, but we have seen a large improvement on the mens side this year. The additions of Santo Condorelli and Karl Krug have helped the team immensely, as they made the final in the men’s 4x100m free relay for the first time at the World Championships since 2007. They also came scary close to beating out the Brazilians in the relay at the Pan Ams, and they did beat the United States. The men’s 4×100 free obviously didn’t win a medal here, but give it time. It is cool to say they beat the Americans and the Australians anyway. The men’s 4×200 is still a work in progress, but Canada did win their first relay medal from either men or women at the World Championships since 2007 today, with a bronze in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay. This relay is obviously new and a lot of people don’t respect it, but it doesn’t change the fact that Canada has some top tier 100m freestylers in Condorelli, Yuri Kisil, Chantal van Landeghem and Sandrine Mainville who are now competitive with the best in the world.
After the retirement of former World Champion and Olympic medalist Brent Hayden, the Canadian men’s team was in search of a star to emerge in his place. Condorelli appears to be that guy. He has had a fantastic meet, including a national record and semi-final appearance in the 50 fly, 4th place in the 100 free and he also gave Canada the lead after the first leg in both the men’s and the mixed 4x100m freestyle. Van Landeghem is also a future star, who has had a strong championships after a breakthrough Pan Ams where she upset Natalie Coughlin for the gold medal in the 100 freestyle. She was a big part of the women’s 4×100 free relay’s 5th place finish, as well as the mixed relay bronze medal. She has had good swims individually as well, finishing 9th and just missing the final in the 100 freestyle, and has qualified for the final of the 50 freestyle to go tomorrow. Also swimming well for Canada at this meet is Ryan Cochrane, who has always been reliable for a few medals. He won bronze in the 400 freestyle and will look to add another in the 1500 tomorrow, after a disappointing 800 where he missed the final. Kierra Smith made the final in the 200 breastroke, Dominique Bouchard and Hilary Caldwell were finalists in the 200 backstroke, and Katerine Savard finaled in the 100 fly. Sydney Pickrem has maybe had the most impressive meet of any Canadian woman, breaking her own Canadian record multiple times on the way to a 6th place finish in the 200 IM.
Evidently, swimming two Championship meets in one summer isn’t the easiest thing to do. The Canadians had the same issue last summer where they had both the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Championships back to back. Most of the swimmers aren’t swimming quite as fast as they were at the Pan Am Games here, but the swimmers won’t have that problem next year leading into the Olympics. Obviously just 2 medals to show with one day left isn’t what the team was hoping for, but the young Canadian squad will only draw motivation from some of their setbacks here and will come back stronger next year.
Canada will have some more final appearances tomorrow and could even win a medal or two. Ryan Cochrane will swim in the 1500, an event he has won a medal in at five consecutive Olympics/World Championships. He has already qualified for that final from this mornings heats, as has Van Landeghem who will swim in the 50 free final after finishing 8th in the semi-finals tonight. Emily Overholt was a sensation at the Pan Am Games, winning the 400 freestyle to go along with a silver in the 200. She also initially looked to take gold in the 400 IM in a new Pan Am and Canadian record, but lost the title after a controversial DQ. She will look to make her first final of the week in her best event, the 400 IM. Pickrem will also swim in the 400 IM, and the Canadian medley relays will look to crack the final as well.
I’m with Tom ^^ on this. I think the tone/headline of the article would have been a lot different if the author had waited a day or two (after overholt’s and cochrane’s swims) before writing it. Author get points for handing in his assignment early but a D- overall.
@Bill G I only slightly disagree. I’d take the over if the plus/minus was 1.5 medals for Canada and might even take the over if plus/minus was 2.5. Cochrane should be better without having to worry about the 800 and Overholt young and improving. No? That leaves one more. Pickrem young and improving, Santo young and improving, two finalists in 1 fly, the girl who won the 1 back at… Read more »
Thanks for the article.
My question would be “Whose expectations are the Canadian team not meeting?”. The big success at Pan Ams was driven by the women’s team, almost all of whom are in Kazan which – as you pointed out – meant that they had to achieve a robust time standard (~ top 20 in the world). Against the Pan AM field, that equated to lots of medals.
The reality is that big time drops relative to recent form would have been required for any Canadian women to medal here. Are the swimming messaging boards agog and aghast that the likes of Katerine Savard and Noemie Thomas didn’t medal in the 100m fly or that Caldwell/Bouchard didn’t medal… Read more »
I find this an interesting article to post before the championships was over. I refrained from commenting at the time, but I do feel it’s appropriate to add a footnote that at the end of the competition the Canadian team ended up with 16 finals, 7 national records, and 4 medals.
Even if you allow for the addition of the mixed relays that is still a better showing than in the 2013 event, especially on the finals statistic. Increasing from 11 to 16 is almost a 50% increase – that’s huge!
They gave their all at the Pan Ams held in their home country.
Kazan becomes a travel trip with little expectations.