Ilya Kharun Breaks Down Representing Canada, World Jr Records, and 1st Worlds Medals

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman HodgesGarrett McCaffrey, and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

We sat down with World Jr Record holder and World champs medalist Ilya Kharun to discuss his 2022 Short Course World Championships performance. Kharun takes us through each of his individual swims (50, 100, 200 fly) as well as what his first experience competing for Canada was like.
Kharun had thought he was eligible to compete for the USA just this summer, having been named to the USAS Jr Pan Pacs Roster. However, once it was realized by all parties that Kharun only had a Canadian passport, the decision was made for Kharun to instead represent Canada internationally. This is just in time for Swimming Canada, as Kharun will join a rising young crop of male talent that could combine for to make podium appearances on the top stages in years to come.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.

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Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Hm this made me think – have there been any recent US National Teamers that didn’t primarily train in the US?

(I remember this same sorta thing happening w/ Taylor Ruck, where as far as I know she basically lived in the US her whole life but kept Canadian citizenship.)

Obviously tons of other international swimmers come over and train here – esp in college – but I feel like that’s…not been a thing the other direction.

(Edit – Because I mean, I guess if those folks get to that level where they’d be in line for a spot on the national team, it’d just be so much of an easier route to get on a team if they have… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by Steve Nolan
Reid
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Kevin Cordes trained in Singapore for a while

Bo Swims
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Kept? She only had Canadian citizenship when she made her first national team.

bob
1 year ago

Would like to know an educated opinion on why 1 swim club (Sandpipers) can produce so many world class swimmers.Its a head scratcher why other clubs don’t follow their lead.Is it more distance??Better coaching?

Riccardo
Reply to  bob
1 year ago

They’ve produced “good” kids for a long time Cody Miller and Bowe Becker are alums of the program that took off in college. It’s just the first time they’ve had a handful kids with the talent to succeed on the international level while in high school. Also, when you have great athletes you attract great athletes as we’ve seen with Weinstein and now Hodges.

Truthfully in club we are all beholden to what kind of talent walks through the door which is why the biggest multi-site clubs are always relatively successful (NCAP, SwimAtlanta, SwimMac, PASA, etc.)

Sandpipers are such a revelation in some ways because they’re big but they’re also not a giant satellite program. What they are doing is… Read more »

MVB
Reply to  bob
1 year ago

Following a successful first year in a local rec league team (Summerlin Seals) my daughter joined Sandpipers at 9. At the time BCH was the much larger team in Vegas (700 vs 500 for SAND – both are smaller now, especially BCH), but Sandpipers always had more overall talent. She did well in her group the first year and was offered a position in a higher group where she knew more would be asked of her and she would have to follow a contract she signed. These opportunities only happen once a year and you must demonstrate effort, etc in your current group to be invited. Sandpipers is big enough to have multiple 9/10, 11/12, etc groups so the more… Read more »

Nonrevhoofan
1 year ago

Coleman – Next time, it would be fun to find out what kind of work his parents do with Cirque (“Are they performers?” and is there any relationship between their line of work and Ilya’s swimming career.

REL
Reply to  Nonrevhoofan
1 year ago

From Valeriy Kharun’s LinkedIn: 2001-2013 artist,acrobat,coach

Hooked on Chlorine
1 year ago

When I first read that headline, I honestly thought the poor guy had worked so hard to represent Canada and the other things that he’d suffered a breakdown.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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