Canadian Roster Update: McIntosh, Wilm, Pickrem Among Worlds Qualifiers 

2023 Canadian Swimming Trials

• March 28 – April 2, 2023
• Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre – Toronto, Ontario
• TPASC
• Long Course Meters
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap
• Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Worlds Selection Procedure

Night one of the 2023 Canadian Swimming Trials saw one world record fall and eight swimmers punch their tickets to the 2023 World Championships in July

As a reminder, the top two swimmers under the FINA ‘A’ cut during the ‘A’ finals of this meet have first priority to qualify for the 2023 World Championships roster, according to Swimming Canada’s selection procedure. A maximum of two swimmers can qualify per individual event. 

16-year-old Summer McIntosh cruised to victory in the 400 free, hitting the wall first by more than 10 seconds with a new world record time of 3:56.08. She shaved .32 off the previous mark set by Australia’s Ariarne Titmus in 2022. Ella Jansen snagged second place (4:08.81) by beating the FINA ‘A’ cut and joining McIntosh in earning a spot on Canada’s World Championships roster.

Earlier in the session, Sydney Pickrem had her fastest 200 breast swim since 2019 to win the final with a time of 2:24.63 and become the first person to notch her name on the Worlds roster. Kelsey Wog hit the wall second (2:25.26), also under the FINA ‘A’ standard.

In the women’s 100 back, Ingrid Wilm overtook Canadian record holder and former world record holder Kylie Masse on the final 50 meters to win gold in a time of 58.80. This was a huge swim for Wilm who finished 3rd in the event last year and therefore didn’t qualify for the 2022 World Championships in the 100. Masse hit the wall second (59.00), also under the FINA ‘A’ cut, so she will join Wilm on the roster.

Javier Acevedo was one of two swimmers to earn a spot on the men’s roster, officially, tonight after he blasted a time of 53.83 in the 100 back to win gold and beat the standard by .20. That’s Acevedo’s fastest 100 back since 2018 when he competed at the Pan Pacific Championships and posted a 53.90.

While no one cracked the FINA ‘A’ cut in the men’s 200 breast final, James Dergousoff beat it during prelims with a 2:10.01. The swim had to occur during an ‘A’ final to officially punch his ticket to World under Priority 1, but he could potentially qualify for the Worlds roster under Priority 7: “The High Performance Director may at his sole discretion select eligible Swimmers where space remains in individual events or may select Swimmers to enhance relays.”

Gold medal winner Brayden Taivassalo did not break the FINA ‘A’ cut (he posted a time of 2:11.28), but he does qualify for Canada’s roster under Priority 4: “ If no FINA “A” standard is achieved in an event “the fastest placed eligible Swimmer, provided they have attained the Swimming Canada secondary qualification standard will be selected.” Even though Dergousoff’s prelims time was faster, it does not count since it was not posted during finals.

Projected Canadian World Championships Roster:

Women:

• Sydney Pickrem – 200 breast
• Kelsey Wog – 200 breast
• Ingrid Wilm – 100 back
• Kylie Masse – 100 back
• Summer McIntosh – 400 free
• Ella Jansen – 400 free

Men:

• Javier Acevedo – 100 back
• Brayden Taivassalo – 200 breast