Swimming Canada announced the goals for its National Distance Training Group at the High Performance Centre – Ontario.
The objective is to build the next generation of successful distance and open water swimmers through a new distance strategy initiative. Its long-term strategy is to establish a program focused on developing distance swimmers at both junior and senior international levels.
The program started with a series of camps and virtual challenges to enhance the depth and quality of Canadian distance swimming in the pool and open water who can ultimately excel at the Olympics and World Championships.
The program targets female swimmers born in 2011 or earlier and male swimmers born in 2010 or earlier. Eligible athletes must demonstrate On Track times or be close to achieving these standards in events such as the 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle, or 400m individual medley.
The program officially begins in September, but applications are currently being accepted with early acceptance possible.
“This is a fantastic opportunity,” said National Distance/Open Water Coach Mark Perry. “Right now, there aren’t enough male or female swimmers progressing in the distance pool events. That impacts both pool performance in distance events, 400m and down events, and the development of open water athletes. Our strategic plan aims to strengthen distance swimming, and this program will help us bridge that gap. The world stage has a noticeable gap between top finishers and the rest of the field —there’s a real opportunity here for Canadian swimmers.”
Research has shown that participating in a structured distance program during key development years leads to improved performance in both pool and open water events. Every Olympic 10K Marathon Swim medalist [see below] wee distance pool swimmers.
2008 Beijing Olympic 10K Marathon Swim – Women
Gold: Larisa Ilchenko (Russia) 1:59:27.7
Silver: Keri-Anne Payne (Great Britain) 1:59:29.2
Bronze: Cassandra Patten (Great Britain) 1:59:31.0
2008 Beijing Olympic 10K Marathon Swim – Men
Gold: Maarten van der Weijden (Netherlands) 1:51:51.6
Silver: David Davies (Great Britain) 1:51:53.1
Bronze: Thomas Lurz (Germany) 1:51:53.6
2012 London Olympic 10K Marathon Swim – Women
Gold: Éva Risztov (Hungary) 1:57:38.2
Silver: Haley Anderson (USA) 1:57:38.6
Bronze: Martina Grimaldi (Italy) 1:57:41.8
2012 London Olympic 10K Marathon Swim – Men
Gold: Oussama Mellouli (Tunisia) 1:49:55.1
Silver: Thomas Lurz (Germany) 1:49:58.5
Bronze: Richard Weinberger (Canada) 1:50:00.3 [shown above in the Serpentine]
2016 Rio Olympic 10K Marathon Swim – Women
Gold: Sharon van Rouwendaal (Netherlands) 1:56:32.1
Silver: Rachele Bruni (Italy) 1:56:49.5
Bronze: Poliana Okimoto (Brazil) 1:56:51.4
2016 Rio Olympic 10K Marathon Swim – Men
Gold: Ferry Weertman (Netherlands) 1:52:59.8
Silver: Spyridon Gianniotis (Greece) 1:52:59.8
Bronze: Marc-Antoine Olivier (France) 1:53:02.0
2020 Tokyo Olympic 10K Marathon Swim – Women
Gold: Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil, 29) 1:59:30.90
Silver: Sharon van Rouwendaal (Netherlands, 27) 1:59:31.70
Bronze: Kareena Lee (Australia, 27) 1:59:32.50
2020 Tokyo Olympic 10K Marathon Swim – Men
Gold: Florian Wellbrock (Germany, 23) 1:48:33.70
Silver: Kristóf Rasovszky (Hungary, 24) 1:48:59.00
Bronze: Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy, 26) 1:49:01.10
2024 Paris Olympic 10K Marathon Swim – Women
Gold: Sharon van Rouwendaal, Netherlands 2:03:34.2
Silver: Moesha Johnson, Australia 2:03:39.7
Bronze: Ginevra Taddeucci, Italy 2:03:42.8
2024 Paris Olympic 10K Marathon Swim – Men
Gold: Kristóf Rasovszky, Hungary 1:50:52.7
Silver: Oliver Klemet, Germany 1:50:54.8
Bronze: David Betlehem, Hungary 1:51:09.0
It will not be an easy program with High Performance Centre Head Coach Ryan Mallette and Assistant Coach Rob Novak overseeing the program in consultation with Perry. Athletes will also benefit from an integrated support team in partnership with Canadian Sport Institute Ontario, which offers expertise in sport science, nutrition, psychology, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, and mental performance. “We believe success in distance swimming is best achieved within a collaborative and challenging training group,” said Mallette who coached two-time Olympic medalist Ryan Cochrane. “This will be the first training group in a High Performance Centre dedicated to distance training. We need to create an environment where a group of committed athletes can push each other to excel.”
With an eye on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and beyond, Swimming Canada encourages athletes to consider pursuing their university education in Canada while continuing their training. High Performance Centre-Ontario operates on the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, offering student-athletes the opportunity to compete for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues while receiving world-class training.
For those based in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), part-time participation is an option with parental and coach approval. The program will also welcome visiting athletes and coaches from across Canada to participate in training sessions.
Athletes and their coaches are encouraged to contact Swimming Canada Manager of High Performance Centre Operations Michelle Poirier at mpoirier@swimming.ca to learn more.
Of the 29 Canadian swimmers on the 2024 Paris Olympic team, 72% trained at a Swimming Canada High Performance Centre for significant periods in their career. Coach Mallette emphasized the benefits of joining a dedicated training program at the centre. “We have seen firsthand how committing to a high-performance lifestyle and training ethic can drive significant improvement. If an athlete is ready to outwork the competition daily, we have the structure and accountability to help them succeed at the international level. These are the athletes we want to work with — those who are eager to push themselves and realize their full potential.”
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