Swimming Canada Releases Preliminary Top-30 Lists for Canadian Olympic Trials

Taylor Ruck; Photo Courtesy: Swimming Canada/Kevin Jarrold

Swimming Canada on Wednesday released the preliminary lists of 30 swimmers for possible invitations to next April’s Canadian Olympic Trials in Toronto.

The lists released Wednesday rank the top 30 Canadian swimmers in each Olympic event, as of Dec. 18. This is the basis for Canadian Olympic Trials invites, where up to a maximum of 20 swimmers in each event will compete. That process will be initiated on Jan. 6.

With Canadian swimmers as the obvious priority, potential invitations to non-Canadian swimmers to use the meet to chase Olympic A cuts can then be considered.

Among the highlights from the list:

– Penny Oleksiak, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist 100 freestyle, is listed in three events, though not the 50 freestyle. She holds the top time in the 200 free, part of a loaded chase for relay spots, and second in the 100 free plus third in the 100 butterfly.

– Brent Hayden, in his return from retirement, is ranked first in the men’s 50 free and fifth in the 100 free. The Canadian record holder in the 200 free isn’t ranked in that event.

– Taylor Ruck is ranked first in the 100 free. She’s second in the 200 free and third in the 50 free, both events in which she holds the national record, and second to Kylie Masse in both of the backstroke events.

– Kayla Sanchez holds the top time in the 50 ahead of Maggie MacNeil, who is the top time in the 100 fly.

– Kelsey Wog, who had a tremendous 2020 season, is the top seed in both the 100 and 200 breast. Sydney Pickrem, the top seed in both IMs, is second in the 200 breast and third in the 100 breast, behind Kierra Smith.

– The rankings set up a busy week for Markus Thormeyer. He’s ranked first in the 100 back, 200 back, 100 free and 200 free. That would set him up for, potentially, seven swims in Tokyo before factoring in the mixed free relay.

The full list is available here. Canadian Olympic Trials run from April 7-11 in Toronto.

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