Toronto’s Top Swimmers Will Race at High Performance Time Trial This Weekend

High Performance Onario TPASC Time Trial

A previously-scheduled May High Performance Test Racing Event scheduled for the Toronto Pan American Sports Center this coming week was canceled, but a new event was added to the scheduled in its play.

On May 7-8, Canada’s newest primo facility will host a “High Performance Time Trial,” which is only for elite swimmers who meet certain standards.

The event is the same dates as the previously-scheduled time trial for swimmers from across the country, but both local health officials and the facility managers balked at the notion of athletes traveling in from across the country for the event.

The reimagined event, therefore, has a requirement that to be eligible, athletes invited must currently be training regularly at TPASC. Most of the top swimmers in the Greater Toronto Area train at least somewhat regularly at the facility, so athletes from a number of different clubs, besides just the High Performance Center – Ontario swimmers, will participate in the event.

Other performance-related criteria includes:

  • Must be identified as part of Swimming Canada 2020 OTP Identified Athlete Pool, or
  • Must have an official result since September 1, 2018 that is within 1.5% of the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT/A)
  • For para swimmers: must have been a member of the 2019 WPS Canadian World Championship Team.

The meet will be formatted with a maximum of 4 swimmers per heat, and Para races will be swum in a multi-class format using the Canadian Paralympic Point system to determine rankings.

Entry events were determined by high performance staff.

The goal of the meet is to give swimmers additional racing opportunities ahead of the upcoming Olympic Trials, which last week were postponed, again, this time until June.

Many of the country’s biggest names and top Olympic contenders will be in attendance. Among the highlight events will be the women’s 200 freestyle, where Penny OleksiakTaylor Ruck, and Kayla Sanchez will all race head-to-head.

The women’s 100 free will include that group as well as Maggie MacNeil, the defending World Champion in the 100 fly who trains in the United States at the University of Michigan, but is apparently returning for this event. She’ll also race the 100 back and 100 fly.

Another World Champion, the 100 backstroke title holder, Kylie Masse, will race the 100 and 200 back. In the 100 back, she’ll swim against Ruck, Jade Hannah, Sanchez, and MacNeil.

The defending World Championships bronze medalist in the 200 IM Sydney Pickrem is also scheduled to be present.

Masse, MacNeil, Pickrem, Oleksiak, and Ruck are 5 of the 6 swimmers that Swimming Canada pre-selected to their Olympic Team – though the 2nd spot is still open in the women’s 100 free and 200 free. The other pre-selected swimmer, Markus Thormeyer, trains in British Columbia.

The meet has some big names, though it’s overall a very compact field with just 22 Olympic hopefuls and 2 Paralympic hopefuls in attendance. It’s still a crucial meet for a number of athletes with limited racing opportunities between now and June’s Olympic Trials. While most of Canada’s serious Olympic contenders from the region have found opportunities to compete, with a lot of those opportunities being abroad in either the International Swimming League or in the United States’ Pro Swim Series, tightened regulations in Canada because of a rise in COVID cases could make those opportunities increasingly-difficult to come by.

Swimmers in the western provinces, especially the concentration in British Columbia, will be wont for the same opportunities: Swimming Canada’s official results database shows that athletes like Markus Thormeyer and Emily Overholt haven’t raced an official meet in 2021 yet. Those results don’t include a few collegiate meets, for example, that didn’t wind up in the official database, but with the USports season wrapped in late February, even those opportunities have dried up.

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SMO
3 years ago

Interesting, exciting and confusing to see results. On the interesting side, check out Pickrem’s 100BR – within striking distance of FinaA time – which looks good for the 400M Relay. On the exciting front – 14 year old Summer McIntosh’s FinaA time in the 1500Fr and within striking distance of the 200FR (and also exciting, she dropped 5 seconds in the 200FR and an amazing 19 seconds in the 1500FR.) Ruck and Oleksiak are amazing – so, confusing Ruck had such a poor showing in the 100FR (maybe she’s too deep into training…) – and while Oleksiak has been as low as 154 (albeit on the relay) in the 200FR, she led a field where no one met FinaA. Super… Read more »

NJones
Reply to  SMO
3 years ago

Pickrem – good for her but with Wog going 106 last Feb I hope the ‘hope’ is that she’ll progress to at least a 105 relay split.

Summer – amazing across all events, individually and for 4×2 relay depth.

Taylor – hopefully heavy training fatigue.

Penny, Kayla, Rebecca, Maggie – very solid promising swims.

Kylie – 58.4 now? Smoking!! Maybe she does have a 57 in her and will give the young American and Aussie all they can handle.

Men – kudos to Knox. Reality is very few even racing so not that surprising lack of fina A type swims.

njones
3 years ago

Hopefully a swimswam highlight news release soon, some pretty encouraging results today:
100 Free –

  • best times from Kayla, Maggie and Rebecca (53.5 to 54 low). If those 3 remain as our 3rd/4th/5th, that’s really encouraging for the 4×1 relay depth.
  • solid 53 high from Penny

100 back –

  • 58.4 from Kylie! scorching in season swim
  • 59 from Maggie!! showing she can certainly convert from scy to lcm. She may challenge for the 2nd 100 back spot!

200 im –
* solid 210 from Sydney
1500 free –
* young Summer crushes the fina A time with a 16:16 I believe?

Mens 100 free –
* promising results with a bunch of 49s including the youngsters!

Looking fwd to tomorrow…

Super Summer
Reply to  njones
3 years ago

Summer’s swim has to be the most impressive!! On her own and a top 10 time in the world this year… amazing

bob
Reply to  njones
3 years ago

no matter what talent will emerge…no?

Hopeful
3 years ago

It’s sad reading all these bickering.

To all swimmers whether you are swimming at this meet or not.

Remember what your coaches have taught you.

There will always be adversities in life. How you handle it, will test your resiliency if you want to go to the next level.

swim parent...
3 years ago

great to hear they are swimming…. hoping more training / racing to come in Canada for everyone shortly!!!

NJones
3 years ago

I wonder if swimswam can check the email addresses of the posters on this thread as it seems like an example of one person under multiple user names driving their ‘privileged’ narrative…

whateverman
Reply to  NJones
3 years ago

Why do you think only one person thinks that? its that far-fetched?

NJones
Reply to  whateverman
3 years ago

Because it’s happened many times before on this site and the grammar and sentence style seem to be similar, imo…

Haha
Reply to  NJones
3 years ago

Similar ideas attract similar grammar! 😆

Observer
3 years ago

I can understand some people disappointment. You can curse Swim Canada all you want. But please spare the elite swimmers on your negative comments.

They done nothing wrong to you. Just getting ready for the call of the country in case no trials will happened.

SwimFan
Reply to  Observer
3 years ago

agreed but the “call of the country “ should be fair and not cater to a select few. The process is not transparent and swimmers should be selected fairly and without biases

Last edited 3 years ago by SwimFan
Pullbuoy
Reply to  SwimFan
3 years ago

The criteria is clearly stated with objective measures. So who do you think was selected with bias?

swimagain
Reply to  SwimFan
3 years ago

It is fair, if you have the times, and according to government and provincial guidelines, you are allowed to get there and race, you can race. If not, you can not. Times are times, you either have them, or have been training at the TPASC, or not. If you have one qualifying time, you can swim other events. This is not abnormal, nor unfair. It is like bonus cuts at other meets.

Observer
Reply to  SwimFan
3 years ago

Worry not, I have a feeling trials will push through , i said just in case get real!

TBD
Reply to  SwimFan
3 years ago

The time trial thing is so unfair to many other elite swimmers who also want to answer the call of the country.

Observer
Reply to  TBD
3 years ago

It’s just too bad because of the circumstances. Limited participants only. Better to accomplish something than nothing. Pulling the legs of the so called privileged few just to get even for the left out, what we get?

Covid killer
Reply to  TBD
3 years ago

Isn’t that what Olympic trials is for?

AllSwimFan
3 years ago

There is probably something wrong with my math skills but please tell me how 2:02.30 is just 1.5% away from Fina A’ 1:57.28. Or how 50.99 is 1.5% away from Fina A 48.57? If Swim Ontario/Swim Canada made exceptions for those and few more athletes why wouldn’t they make the same exceptions for other athletes as well? Why there is only 1500 for girls, but not 800 or 1500 for boys?!

Pullbuoy
Reply to  AllSwimFan
3 years ago

I was wondering the same on a few events and your math is correct, but the criteria states in article must be within 1.5% Fina A or identified as part of the OTP pool. Hope that helps. If there are no men in the 800/1500 it means no men in Ontario meet these criteria.

TBD
Reply to  Pullbuoy
3 years ago

“identified as part of the OTP pool” is obviously customized to justify to invite those who are “privileged”.

swim101
Reply to  AllSwimFan
3 years ago

I had the same comment, but it is not being approved for some reason:

I am just wondering why nobody has done the math. Look at the psych sheets. It has the FINA A times listed. Then look at the entries. There are many swimmers swimming events where they are NOT, some not even remotely, within the 1.5% margin. Why are they allowed to swim these events? To me, it is excusable that swimmers can swim events in which they are close (within 1.5%). But swimming events in which swimmers are officially over 1.5% is bending the rules and exclusive.

golgotha
Reply to  swim101
3 years ago

Special rules for special people. Rules can be made to fit an agenda. Swim Canada – Lets set it up to benefit who we want it to benefit………while Swimming in Canada at the grass root is dying

COVID
Reply to  swim101
3 years ago

Because they already train at Tpasc. The Tpasc management do not want outsiders coming into the facility. Also some of those times are old and those swimmers have been training their tails off to get the FINA time.

SwimFan
Reply to  COVID
3 years ago

Privileged

COVID
Reply to  SwimFan
3 years ago

They are canada’s Top swimmers and world ranked. They are also recognized by Sport Canada as carded athletes because of their rankings.
They are not privileged, they have absolutely earned the right to train, and have an opportunity to qualify for the Olympics.
Stop with the jealousy because your kid hasn’t achieved this level.

Fairness
Reply to  COVID
3 years ago

My comment stands PRIVILEGED..

whateverman
Reply to  Fairness
3 years ago

yup! (That Covid guy maybe works there?)

Swimmer
Reply to  COVID
3 years ago

These are certainly not all the swimmers swimming at tpasc at the moment. Only the ones in the 1.5% margin. Meaning that if your apart of hpc and do not meet 1.5% criteria it’s okay because you are privileged enough to swim at this test event above other people who are also training at tpasc but don’t meet the 1.5%

Fairness
Reply to  COVID
3 years ago

Privilege “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group”

COVID
Reply to  Fairness
3 years ago

The comment above applies to you too!

whateverman
Reply to  COVID
3 years ago

You obviously didn’t read comments right? Many kids swimming at the center daily aren’t invited at the time trial!!!!

Prettykitten
Reply to  AllSwimFan
3 years ago

Its the fina A in the athletes best event. I assume once they have the time they can swim whatever they want.

Pullbuoy
Reply to  Prettykitten
3 years ago

This may be the case or article states can also be invited if an athlete has been identified as part of the OTP pool.

swim101
Reply to  Prettykitten
3 years ago

That is what I mean by bending the rules. First of all, I would assume that to be on the OTP 2020 list you should have been within (a close margin of) the FINA A cut and have represented Canada in former teams already. This list, as far as I know, has not been published, but I doubt age group swimmers would make this list based on the times swam in 2018-2020. Secondly, as this is a so-called exception, keep it an exception and have the swimmers swim the events in which they qualified based on the 1.5% margin. Having swimmers pick and choose based on arbitrariness (up to 4.5% off the FINA A cut) makes it especially hard on… Read more »

Post to post
Reply to  AllSwimFan
3 years ago

Because the centre doesn’t have any boys distance…but they have Summer McIntosh who went 16:34 last year – PRIVILEGE

swimagain
Reply to  Post to post
3 years ago

I am not sure why Summer Mcintosh swimming a 16:34, and 13 years old, makes you call her Privileged. It means she is talented and works hard. The swimmers that are training are not in control of how the government places restrictions. Stop being so negative, and realize these athletes are able to train, and do so everyday in hopes of representing Canada. The clubs and coaches of swimmers not in the water need to stand up for their swimmers.the burden of being an elite athlete is hard enough without all the rude comments. In the US, elite athletes were at the OTC in Colorado training, and there was not this type of outrage. It is sad that no one… Read more »

Fairness
Reply to  swimagain
3 years ago

She is privileged because she is one of the few athletes allowed to continue to train during a pandemic. No one is saying she isn’t a talented 14 yr old. Definitely talented but she and others are able to continue training with no interruption unlike the hundreds of other talented athletes who have not been given the same opportunity.

COVID
Reply to  Fairness
3 years ago

They have earned this right! The hundreds of others are not swimming Fina A times or Olympic hopefuls for 2021.

Fairness
Reply to  COVID
3 years ago

You don’t really know that because they haven’t had an opportunity to show their talent unlike the elite/privileged ones who are training uninterrupted. In addition, hopefully these time trial athletes will be swimming FINA times.. At this pt, we can only go on Fina A times achieved quite some time ago for most of them. Earning the right, and having the opportunity to earn the right are 2 different things

COVID
Reply to  Fairness
3 years ago

I’m certain your swimmer has ben doing unofficial time trials or has had racing opportunities in training. I can guarantee you that if your kid did a Fina A time during one of those races that swim Canada would be all over it! They want to send a great team to Tokyo, they want medals! Particularly if you have a male swimmer, there are a number of male events where we do not have anyone qualified.
There is a difference between what you hope will happen at a Trials and the reality of what your swimmer is currently achieving.
Penny or Maggie did not all of a sudden go Fina A or world leading times, they were showing… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by COVID
mills
Reply to  COVID
3 years ago
Golgotha
Reply to  Fairness
3 years ago

Earn the right. Just like every other swimmer in history has …by competing against all qualifiers in a Trials and proving that they can get a Fina A time AND come top two in the country in a full event. Just because you get a FINA A time 2 years ago doesn’t mean you can do it at a trials and come top two. This is not a slight against the HPC athletes it’s a comment on how Swim Canada can’t figure it out and has left many many swimmers hanging without a chance to prove they can do it

Last edited 3 years ago by Golgotha
Pullbuoy
Reply to  Fairness
3 years ago

The original “fair” time trial was cancelled 2 days out as Ontario went into a stay at home order and not all stakeholders comfortable with continuing. We still are in a stay at home order so the scope of the event needed to be narrowed. TPASC wanted fewer participants that already trained at facility. The multiple other Olympic and Paralympic sports that train at facility also want to be protected against potential outbreak/closure 2mths out of Olympics. So given these restraints all those that feel unfair what criteria would you have used to hold this event?

Last edited 3 years ago by Pullbuoy
whateverman
Reply to  Pullbuoy
3 years ago

Plan it better ahead of time, bubbles… multiple SMALL time trials in every province.. multiple weekeds (by stroke? = less people), there is literally a million ways. If you don’t ask coaches / managers for ideas, suggestions, etc you obviously choose the easy way out. Nothing was done, asked, consulted etc (I know)

Golgotha
Reply to  Fairness
3 years ago

Exactly.Talented and Privileged. While the Talented and Unprivileged are getting left behind. A fair system for a few.

NJones
Reply to  Fairness
3 years ago

There are 100s of other talented swimmers, but there are only a dozen or so that are finals, let alone medal contenders. No matter where the line is drawn it’s ‘unfair’ to whomever is on the wrong side. Our women’s team is on the cusp of being our best ever with multiple medal contenders (pre-selected) plus a strong spring cast who will challenge for finals and provide relay depth. Support them… Period.

Covid killer
Reply to  Fairness
3 years ago

Training exemptions aren’t based on talent, they are based on results. Wherever these hundreds of athletes you are talking about had the same opportunity as Summer pre covid to compete and post results.

whateverman
Reply to  Covid killer
3 years ago

hum…how? when? weird comment

swim101
3 years ago

I am just wondering why nobody has done the math. Look at the psych sheets. It has the FINA A times listed. Then look at the entries. There are many swimmers swimming events where they are NOT, some not even remotely, within the 1.5% margin. Why are they allowed to swim these events? To me, it is excusable that swimmers can swim events in which they are close (within 1.5%). But swimming events in which swimmers are officially over 1.5% is bending the rules and exclusive.

TBD
Reply to  swim101
3 years ago

Exactly. This is why those swimmers are ” privileged ” for some reason!!

Post to post
Reply to  swim101
3 years ago

It is because they are at the Centre they get to be invited to this event…total double standard.
Same speed kids from clubs aren’t invited…PRIVILEGED- This is purposeful so people see that if you join the centre, you get special privilege…and more kids at the Centre=Government $$$$!!!!!

COVID
Reply to  Post to post
3 years ago

Stop whining and run your own time trial! In Toronto the only swimmers that can train right now as per the Provincial Health orders are those who have been identified as Olympic hopefuls. It’s got nothing to do with the Center! There are swimmers you are racing at this event that train with clubs but they are Olympic hopefuls and they already train at Tpasc. Read the requirements listed in the article.

SwimFan
Reply to  COVID
3 years ago

Due to stay at home orders and provincial restrictions time trials are not allowed.

Pullbuoy
Reply to  Post to post
3 years ago

Several club swimmers were invited to the time trial that meet the criteria (1.5% Fina A or OTP). But you state there are other “same speed” club swimmers not invited? If this is the case that is upsetting but who are they?

SwimMomof3
Reply to  Pullbuoy
3 years ago

There are same speed swimmers who are training at TPASC right now who aren’t invited! Top 20 in the Country, swimming at trials (should they happen) but NOT INVITED to the time trial. They are teens who have improved greatly, even after their qualifying times, but no opportunity to race.

Last edited 3 years ago by SwimMomof3
whateverman
Reply to  swim101
3 years ago

#SwimCan

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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