Markus Thormeyer Commits to UBC Thunderbirds

Photo Courtesy: Swimming Canada/Scott Grant

The UBC Thunderbirds men’s swim program is proud to announce that Markus Thormeyer, widely considered one of the brightest young talents in Canadian swimming, has committed to the Blue and Gold, and will be joining the program in Fall 2016.

For Thormeyer, who has been training at the Swimming Canada High Performance Centre since this past September, the decision to turn down the USC Trojans, to whom he verbally committed in October, and join the ‘Birds wasn’t an easy one.

However, he believes it was the right one.

“Well, I chose UBC because it is the best swimming program in Canada – they have the most CIS championship titles and the HCP, which is affiliated with the varsity team, is one of the top training centres in the country,” Thormeyer said. “Training with the team for the past few months, and getting to know Tom [Johnson, head coach at the HCP] and everyone else, I couldn’t leave them.”

Thormeyer will bring an extensive international resume to the Point Grey Campus. The Markham, Ont.-born swimmer made his presence felt internationally at the 2013 FINA World Junior Championships. Just 16 years old at the time, Thornmeyer was the youngest member of the Canadian squad.

Thormeyer continued to make waves at the junior level, taking five total gold medals at the Speedo Western Canadian Swimming Championships over the 2014 and 2015 editions of the tournament.

After finishing second in the 100m and 200m backstroke at the Canadian Trials over the summer, the 6-foot-5 Thormeyer made his senior national team debut at the 2015 Toronto Pan-Am Games.

At the event, the 18-year-old led off the morning heats for the 4×100-metre freestyle, which went on to earn a bronze medal in the final. Individually, Thormeyer also left Toronto with a seventh-place finish in the 100m backstroke, as well as a 19th place showing in the 200m freestyle.

Thormeyer’s ability and resume make him a massive get for the Thunderbirds and head coach Steve Price.

“Anytime a guy like that, who is so highly regarded in the NCAA, decides to stay home and swim for a program here is fantastic,” said Price. “We have a pretty great men’s team, and have already done some pretty solid recruiting for next year, but Markus coming here takes it to a whole other level. It’s definitely a great addition – he’s one of the best juniors to come along in Canada in some time, and I think he’s going to surprise people this April at the Olympic Trials. On top of his talent, though, Markus is a quality individual and an outstanding student.”

The Olympic Trials, which serve as a qualifying event for the Canadian Olympic team that will make its way to Rio this summer, will run from April 5-10 in Toronto.

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