Victoria Hosts Thrilling Start to 2025 Canadian Swimming Trials!

Fort Lauderdale, USA - The Canadian Swimming Trials kicked off in the picturesque city of Victoria on June 7, 2025, marking the start of an exciting six-day event. This championship is vital for athletes as it determines which swimmers will represent Canada at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. On day one, many eyes were glued to the pool as outstanding talents like Kylie Masse and Summer McIntosh showcased their skills in various preliminaries.

Kylie Masse, who trains at the University of Toronto, opened the day with the women’s 100 backstroke event. Having a storied career that includes being the first Canadian to win back-to-back FINA World Championships gold medals, Masse remains a formidable competitor. She set the Canadian record of 57.70 seconds in 2021 and was seen in great form, finishing day one preliminaries with a time of 59.23 seconds. Her exuberant spirit and dedication to the sport make her one of the highlights of these trials. “It’s important to be proud of past successes, but I focus on what’s next,” she remarked earlier, indicating her commitment to continual improvement.

Preliminary Highlights

The day continued with thrilling heats across various categories:

• Women’s 200 Breaststroke Prelims:
  • Top Qualifier: Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAMO) – 2:25.70
  • Sophie Angus (HPCON) – 2:27.44
  • Alexanne Lepage (UCSC) – 2:29.51
  • Shima Taghavi (HYACK) – 2:30.12
• Men’s 200 Breaststroke Prelims:
  • Top Qualifier: Aleksas Savickas (FLOR) – 2:13.44
  • Oliver Dawson (GPP) – 2:13.97
  • Justice Migneault (UBCT/HPCVN) – 2:14.15
• Women’s 100 Backstroke Prelims:
  • Kylie Masse (TSC) – 59.23
  • Taylor Ruck (KAJ) – 1:00.04
  • Ingrid Wilm (CASC/HPCVN) – 1:00.40
• Men’s 100 Backstroke Prelims:
  • Blake Tierney (GOLD/HPCVN) – 54.02
  • Parker Deshayes (CASC) – 54.85
  • Cole Pratt (CASC/HPCVN) – 54.94
• Women’s 400 Freestyle Prelims:
• Men’s 400 Freestyle Prelims:

These results lay the groundwork for what promises to be an exhilarating series of events. Mary-Sophie Harvey, who is coached by Greg Arkhurst, has had a remarkable personal best of 2:24.44 recently, and she topped the women’s 200 breaststroke in these prelims. It’s clear that her training is paying off.

Looking Ahead

The excitement in Victoria is palpable as swimmers push themselves to secure a place on the world stage. Kylie Masse, who has been named Swimming Canada’s Female Swimmer of the Year for three consecutive years, is particularly eager to reclaim her place at the top. She has expressed aspirations not just of competing, but of setting new records. “I feel more mature in my swimming since the 2016 Olympics,” she said, highlighting her journey and growth as an athlete.

As we continue to watch these exceptional competitors throughout the trials, it’s a reminder of the hard work and perseverance that goes into each swim. The para swimming events also added a rich layer of diversity and inclusivity, showcasing talent across various classifications. With the introduction of multi-class events, athletes of all abilities came together, ensuring a fair and competitive atmosphere.

What will the coming days hold? Only time will tell, but one thing is sure: these trials are not just about emerging victorious, but also about the heart and passion that every swimmer brings to the sport.

For more details, read SwimSwam’s full coverage here and Swimming World Magazine’s article on Kylie Masse.