Four athletes from the High Performance Centre – Ontario are looking to make their mark at the Canadian Olympic Trials this April with hopes of all qualifying for a spot on the 4x100m freestyle relay.
Chantal Van Landeghem, Michelle Williams, Sandrine Mainville, and young up-and-comer Penny Oleksiak will all be competing to make Canada’s Olympic team on the relay.
While it’s going to be a battle at trials, it’s a daily battle between these four swimmers at the pool as they go head-to-head in whatever set head coach Ben Titley throws at them.
Van Landeghem won the 100m freestyle at the 2015 Pan American Games last summer in Toronto, breaking the Canadian record. Michelle Williams and Sandrine Mainville both joined her on the 4×100 freestyle at Pan Ams to give her another gold, as they collectively broke the Canadian record and took down both the Americans and the Brazilians.
While they were on the team last year, it’s not a lock that they’ll make it this year. Swimmers such as Katerine Savard, world junior champion Taylor Ruck, Victoria Poon, and several others will be right in the mix for a spot on the 4x100m freestyle relay.
Final preparation is underway for the four girls as they look to be the four chosen to represent Canada when trials ends April 10th.
My prediction…
Chantal, Sadrine, Penny and Taylor are your 4x1Free in Rio
Wow, the Canadian OT will be soon! I’m excited to see who makes the team.
Ben Titley deserves a lot more recognition – Halsall, Tancock, Van Landeghem, Oleksiak, Mainville, Williams… developed some great sprinters!
Good luck to the Canadian ladies.