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South African Aimee Canny has committed to the University of Virginia for the fall of 2022. Canny had the opportunity to represent her home nation at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and primarily focuses on the sprint freestyle events.
17 year-old Canny represented South Africa at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, competing in their 4×200 freestyle relay. South Africa finished 11th overall in prelims (8:01.56), which was a new national and African record. She led off their relay in 1:58.41, which was a personal best time. For reference, the FINA “A” time that qualified athletes for the 2020 Olympic Games was a 1:57.28.
Canny has also represented SA internationally at the 2019 Jr. World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. At the national level, she competed at the 2020 South Africa National Championships (SCM), winning a total of 4 medals: gold in the 200 free (1:56.78) and 100 IM (1:00.31), silver in the 100 free (54.27), and bronze in the 400 free (4:09.90).
Canny lives in South Africa, so she doesn’t have any official Short Course Yards (SCY) times. Her best times include:
- 50 free (LCM) – 25.29
- 100 free (LCM) – 54.87
- 200 free (LCM) – 1:58.41
- 200 IM (SCM) – 2:13.84
Since Canny has no yards data, we’ve converted her best meters times to yards times.
- 50 yard free – 22.08 (converted from LCM)
- 100 yard free – 47.99 (converted from LCM)
- 200 yard free – 1:43.79 (converted from LCM)
- 200 yard IM – 2:00.57 (converted from SCM)
Canny’s experience in the 200 free will help ease the loss of graduated seniors Paige Madden (1:42.35) and Kyla Valls (1:44.48). Virginia had 3 women score in the 200 free at the 2021 NCAA Championships, which included Madden’s win, amassing 38 points from the event.
Virginia won the women’s 800 free relay at the 2021 NCAA Championships, which featured both Madden and Valls. Based on her projected yards times, she’ll certainly be in contention for one of those two open spots. In the individual event, she would’ve placed 4th overall as a freshman. She’ll join a great group of young 200 freestylers which includes Ella Nelson and USA Olympian Alex Walsh.
Canny’s generated 50 free time would’ve just missed the A-Final at NCAA’s (9th), but her 100 free would’ve gotten her 8th overall. In addition, she certainly would’ve been utilized on Virginia’s 400 free relay, which was anchored in 48.08 and ended up placing 2nd overall.
The University of Virginia won the 2021 NCAA Championships, which was their first team title in school history. The Cavaliers are led by head coach Todd Desorbo, who took over the program in 2017. Desorbo was selected as an assistant coach for Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as he placed 3 athletes on the team: Paige Madden (400 free, 4×200 free relay – Silver), Alex Walsh (200 IM – Silver), and Kate Douglass (200 IM, Bronze). All three athletes won medals at the Olympics and individual NCAA titles during the 2021 run.
Virginia has a loaded incoming class, claiming 3 of the top female recruits in the high school class of 2022. Claire Tuggle, Carly Novelline, and Emma Weber will all bring national or international experience with them to Charlottesville. Other top recruits, such as Zoe Skirboll, Sophia Knapp, and Madeline Smith will add an immense amount of depth to the Cavalier’s roster.
If Virginia can claim the #1 recruit and USA Olympian Claire Curzan, they’ll have nearly solidified the #1 recruiting class.
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She swam 1:42.78 today february 4th
Even though she is a sprinter and mid distance swimmer and even though she starts next year this will definitely soften the blow of losing distance swimmer Caroline Pennington this year; at least NCAA point scoring-wise. If CP has a comeback that would be great too but I’m not sure what her intentions are.
Wahoowa!
That’s a great program !
Big shout out to Coach Francois Boshoff ! What a tremendous job you’ve done with Aimee !
A Canny Cavalier ! Go Hoos !
Aimee, Welcome to the Hoos! Wonderful choice.
She a chunk o Hoo for sure!
HOOS!!!! let’s go! can’t wait to watch the s’women this year
I think UVA will run into the same predicament as UT – multiple NCAA qualifiers will not be able to go to the meet.
Not that deep yet. But getting close.