Penny Oleksiak Reflects on Taking a Step Back after Injuries, Move to Mission Viejo

2024 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT

After racing for the first time in nearly a year, Olympic champion Penny Oleksiak had a conversation with SwimSwam in Westmont. The Canadian has been dealing with knee and ankle injuries for the better part of two years, limiting her ability to compete.

Oleksiak also moved training bases from her longtime home in Toronto (at the HPC – Ontario) to the Mission Viejo Nadadores in Southern California with Jeff Julian’s pro group. There, Oleksiak has been able to enjoy the new scenery and pace of life as well as reunite with her old training partner and former Canadian teammate, Kayla Sanchez.

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Hbgfat
7 months ago

I’m glad to see how positive the comments have been. A lot of people have been looking at her social media noticed she doesn’t post much swimming content then go on here and hate on her because they think they know something. Penny is extremely talented and an extremely hard worker.

gllr0302
7 months ago

3 individual Olympic medals (all colours) in 3 different events.

+ 4 Olympic relay medals

She’s earned the right to do what she wants and she seems happy, so, GREAT. Looking forward to seeing what she can do later this year.

phelpsfan
Reply to  gllr0302
7 months ago

Looking forward to her missing the Olympic team individually? She might sneak in for a relay spot but that’s it. (Someone bookmark this so you come back to it if I’m wrong)

Swimfanparis
Reply to  gllr0302
7 months ago

Agreed she has “earned” the right but she is also receiving a funding on a monthly basis from Swim Canada. Essentially this her job and hopefully she will continue to perform or find another job. She will be added the Olympic team even if she doesn’t qualify…Swim Canada will use one of their many discretionary clauses.

CanSwimFan
Reply to  Swimfanparis
7 months ago

I suspect you are right about Penny being added to the team for relays even if she doesn’t qualify. Hopefully, she will drop some big time over the next few months, though, as the relays won’t make it out of prelims if she is still swimming a 55+ for the 100 and 2:02+ for the 200. She does have a history of rising to the occasion.

Hank
7 months ago

That’s awesome she’s here now. I swim Masters at Mission Viejo and wasn’t even aware of this. Amazing place to live and train!

Jeepers
7 months ago

Her talent is incredible. She could definitely come back to be the best in the world again if that’s what she wants.

Last edited 7 months ago by Jeepers
phelpsfan
Reply to  Jeepers
7 months ago

I agree. But I’m not sure if that’s what she actually wants.

"we've got a boil-over!"
7 months ago

So whether she gets back to 52/154 levels or not this spring/summer, props to her for her patience as she says with rehabbing and changing bases etc. There’s been a lot of “she’s done” or “washed” opinions of late, but hopefully she’s been able to tune that out as it seems and take a real long term approach to her career. Not many elite athletes/swimmers can manage being out of the competitive environment for multi extended time periods, but she seems to be able to excel at fading back then turning things on in Olympic cycles.
That she says she wants to go a few more years is encouraging if she’s looking as far as LA.

cynthia curran
Reply to  "we've got a boil-over!"
7 months ago

Its really Orange County but its called the greater LA area. You can go to things in LA if you have the patient on the freeways with heavy traffic from South Orange County.

cynthia curran
Reply to  cynthia curran
7 months ago

to LA from practice.

"we've got a boilover!"
Reply to  cynthia curran
7 months ago

LA ’28

Sub13
Reply to  "we've got a boil-over!"
7 months ago

I’ve noticed that about 70% of swimmers who are labelled “washed” in SwimSwam comments go on to major achievements lol

Pan Fan
Reply to  Sub13
7 months ago

This message is co-signed by Cameron mcEvoy and Caleb Dressel.

HeGetsItDoneAgain
Reply to  Pan Fan
7 months ago

Addendum added by Adam Peaty

Hank
Reply to  Pan Fan
7 months ago

And Simone Manuel

phelpsfan
Reply to  Sub13
7 months ago

I’m one of them who called Oleksiak “washed” but it was not meant in any sort of malice. Like I said, she hasn’t really shown that she’ll be anywhere close to making the Olympic team. Right now maybe she’ll be on the 4x100m free but that’s it. BUT when saying that I also completely forgot about the fact that she had a knee surgery last year. So her recent times can be excused, and I’m expecting them to only improve as she gets more races in. Really would love to see Penny back at her best.

Last edited 7 months ago by phelpsfan
phelpsfan
Reply to  phelpsfan
7 months ago

I’m saying a positive thing about Penny, not really sure as to why I’m being downvoted.

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
Reply to  phelpsfan
7 months ago

Because no one believes that “washed” is not meant to be a negative comment.

phelpsfan
Reply to  ScovaNotiaSwimmer
7 months ago

Maybe I could’ve said it in a different way. But I just don’t believe Penny will ever get back to her best. I’m Canadian, really hope to be proven wrong here.

Outside Smoke
Reply to  phelpsfan
7 months ago

I’m Canadian too pal, and 55.0 in season was very promising from someone who was never really fast outside of taper to begin with.

Lauren
Reply to  Outside Smoke
7 months ago

Yes! I was really excited to see her race!

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