Penny Oleksiak Takes Down Canadian Record To Lead Heats

2016 SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

  • 2014 World Champion – Femke Heemskerk (NED), 51.37, CR
  • World Record – Cate Campbell (AUS), 50.91, 2015
  • Championship Record – Femke Heemskerk (NED), 51.37

With chants of “Penny, Penny, Penny” coming from the Windsor school children in the crowd, Oleksiak didn’t disappoint, stretching to the wall with a huge last 25 in order to take down the previous Canadian record and put up the fastest time of the heats.

Oleksiak’s time of 52.36 broke Sandrine Mainville’s previous Canadian record of 52.41 that she set back in 2013.

Oleksiak swam the race in true Oleksiak fashion, waiting to make her move on the last 25 in order to just get her hand on the wall first. She was out in 25.45, coming back in 26.91. Her second 50 was the fastest closing split of the entire field, being the only athlete to dip under 27-seconds.

The 2016 co Olympic gold medallist will compete in the second semifinal tonight where she’ll face off with Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands, Federica Pellegrini of Italy, and Jeanette Ottesen of Denmark to name a few.

In the stacked semifinal Oleksiak will once again try to prove that she’s the swimmer to beat, demonstrating the potential to take home a gold medal on home soil.

 

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Bo swims
7 years ago

And she has another 18 months to cut down her 15-17 NAG records … if she breaks WR before she turns 18 that might stand a while on the age grouper side.

Murica
7 years ago

Missy shoulda swam for Canada. Woulda been good for both US and Canada and she prolly wouldnt have crashed and burnt up there. Canada just seems more fuzzy and nice for a person like Missy.

Prickle
7 years ago

What scary about Penny Oleksiak is it is her speed endurance. She was the fastest at last 50 in Rio swimming twice in a row 52.7. And she wasn’t surprised of this elite time at all. She was surprised that that is the gold. She was the fastest at the second half this morning as well. That type of racing reminds me Sarah Sjostrom, but I’m not sure that Sarah was that fast at her 16.

Hswimmer
Reply to  Prickle
7 years ago

Sarah was the world record holder in 100m fly at 15 actually. As it was in 09, though.

aquajosh
Reply to  Prickle
7 years ago

Not in freestyle, but remember, Sarah was the world record holder in the 100m fly at 15, and she was nowhere near the lead at the 50 when she won the 2009 World title to break it. She has devastating closing speed just like Penny.

Swimmer
7 years ago

Penny and Taylor. Great Canadian swimmers.

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Swimmer
7 years ago

And a number of others too (Kylie Masse, cert.)

swimming
7 years ago

Swim Swam gives better coverage then CBC live feed. the commentator’s whoever they are , are a Joke.

About Mitch Bowmile

Mitch Bowmile

Mitch worked for 5-years with SwimSwam news as a web producer focusing on both Canadian and international content. He coached for Toronto Swim Club for four seasons as a senior coach focusing on the development of young swimmers. Mitch is an NCCP level 2 certified coach in Canada and an ASCA Level …

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