Oleksiak Swims Best Time Since 2017, Beats Olympic Co-Champ Manuel In Knoxville

2020 PRO SWIM SERIES – KNOXVILLE

2016 Olympic co-champion in the 100 freestyle Penny Oleksiak took gold in the same event in the last session of the 2020 Pro Swim Series in Knoxville. Oleksiak swam a 53.41 for the win, getting her hand on the wall 0.02 seconds ahead of her co-Olympic Champion Simone Manuel‘s 53.43. Erika Brown took bronze with a 53.49.

That swim for Oleksiak is her best time since the 2017 World Championships. Her fastest time in the 2019 calendar year was a 53.60 at the Canadian Championships.

This swim for Oleksiak gives her her the 8th-fastest 100 free of the season globally, now sitting in between Federica Pellegrini‘s 53.40. Manuels’s swim puts her in 10th this season, with Erika Brown‘s swim being a bit off her 9th place 53.42 from the 2019 Toyota U.S Open.

World Top 10 100 Freestyle 2019-2020

  1. Cate Campbell (AUS)- 52.51
  2. Michelle Coleman (SWE)- 53.04
  3. Bronte Campbell (AUS)- 53.08
  4. Fenke Heemskerk (NED)- 53.23
  5. Siobhan Haughey (HKG)- 53.33
  6. Ranomi Kromowidojo (NED)- 53.33
  7. Federica Pellegrini (ITA)- 53.40
  8. Penny Oleksiak (CAN)- 53.41
  9. Erika Brown (USA)- 53.42
  10. Simone Manuel (USA)- 53.43

Oleksiak’s winning time of 53.41 was a bit over her previous best of 52.70 from Rio which in a Canadian and Olympic record.

As a result of her stellar performance in Rio, Oleksiak became an overnight celebrity in Canada and within the swimming community. She has since remained relevant, competing for Canada at major international meets every year since.

Following her 4 medal performance in Rio, Oleksiak picked up bronze in the 100 free at 2016 short course Worlds. She hasn’t hit the podium individually at any major international meets since but has collected relay medals at several meets including Worlds in 2017 and 2019, along with at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In a recent interview with Canadian news outlet, CTV News, Oleksiak said that she feels more confident than ever heading into the 2020 Olympics. Now holding the top time in Canada this year, Oleksiak’s shot at a second Olympic performance is looking good. Apart from the 100 free, Oleksiak also has a reasonable shot at qualifying in up to three more events; the 50 free, 100 fly and 200 free. This coming April, Oleksiak, along with the rest of Canada’s top swimmers will have a shot to qualify to represent Canada at in Tokyo.

In This Story

20
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

20 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Lolle
4 years ago

She has always been better in fly so maybe she could take down Sarah in the fly??

COVFEFE
Reply to  Lolle
4 years ago

**Takedown Maggie MacNeil?

Swim Parent
Reply to  COVFEFE
4 years ago

Maggie will run away with gold in 100 fly.

COVFEFE
Reply to  Swim Parent
4 years ago

Oh absolutely. That’s my point.

kevin ryan
Reply to  COVFEFE
4 years ago

No one in the world is touching Maggie!

OLYMPICS2020
Reply to  Lolle
4 years ago

Better in fly? silver at the Olympics in fly vs gold in freestyle. But ya sure ok

COVFEFE
4 years ago

Penny always has cluuuuuutch finishes. Its always the last 15 meters.

CanSwim13
4 years ago

Although she has had some down years, I think leaving the HPC and going back to her home club for a little bit was very beneficial for her confidence, autonomy, and relationship with Titley. May not end up on the top of the podium but going to be great for the Canadian relays and hoping for some great individual for her.

njones
Reply to  CanSwim13
4 years ago

This is what we/media need to remember, she has also been ‘the’ poster girl for Canadian swimming past 3 years and taken on that heavy role somewhat allowing Taylor, Kylie, Sydney, Maggie, Kayla to thrive past 2 yrs somewhat under the mainstream media. It is beyond difficult to repeat individual success 4 yrs later, even when the 1st round of it came very young. If she “only” helps the Canadian relays medal and contend for Gold (they have a shot) then it will be most successful and I hope casual fans and media will see that.

Swim Parent
Reply to  njones
4 years ago

I agree somewhat, they are quite good at sheltering swimmers when things aren’t going so well , sometimes at the expense of others. No media comment on meets where some swimmers didn’t perform well.

njones
Reply to  Swim Parent
4 years ago

I disagree ‘somewhat’. On CBC.ca in 2017 after the women 4*200 free relay at world champs: “Canada 4*2 team finishes last a year after Olympic bronze”. The team in the finals had 1 of 4 swimmers from the previous year, finished 8th in the world, not last. Not a bad result considering it was essentially their B team. Very misleading headline and article missing context.

Coach Mike 1952
4 years ago

Congratulations Penny, good to see you performing well & feeling confident! Best to you always, particularly in this Olympic year.

BaldingEagle
4 years ago

In your rankings, it should list Penny as from CAN, not NED.

BaldingEagle
Reply to  Ben Dornan
4 years ago

You fixed it to “CAD” instead of “CAN.”

Taa
4 years ago

How is her butterfly these days?

Matterson
Reply to  Taa
4 years ago

Very good question that many of us are wondering. After missing a worlds berth last year in the 100 fly it seems like she’s been focusing on freestyle ever since. I sure hope this isn’t the case though, she’s a great flyer!

njones
Reply to  Matterson
4 years ago

Agreed. She swam a 209 200 fly ‘in season’ last spring. Not scaring anyone work class necessarily, but not bad showing her range and fitness at the time.

kevin ryan
Reply to  Taa
4 years ago

Maggie Macneil will be reaaly tough to beat

N P
4 years ago

The defending Olympic champion back in business!
This has got to feel pretty nice to get over a win over Manuel, even if it’s only in-season.