With eyes on the FINA World Championships, which begin this weekend in Hungary, famous Canadian swimmer Penny Oleksiak has already announced that she will be skipping the next big competition, the Commonwealth Games.
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“I’m excited about the idea of competing in the World Cup, but after careful consideration I’ve come to the conclusion that skipping the Games of Commonwealth is the best long-term option for me to devote myself to preparing for the 2023 season and the.” Paris Games 2024,” Oleksiak said in a statement from Swimming Canada on Wednesday.
“The international competition schedule is particularly tight with the addition of the Commonwealth Games this year, just after the World Championships,” said John Atkinson, high-performance director and national swimming coach for Canada. We fully support Penny in her decision to manage her workload over the long term.”
After the FINA Worlds from June 18th to July 3rd, the next Commonwealth Games are supposed to be held from July 28th to August 8th in Birmingham, England.
Quebec athletes to watch
Oleksiak’s decision could allow several other Canadian athletes to garner more attention during the Commonwealth Games. Seven swimmers from Quebec were also part of Swimming Canada’s selection of 30 athletes announced last month for the Commonwealth Games.
When it comes to paraswimming, watch out for Aurélie Rivard, as well as Camille Bérubé and Nicolas-Guy Turbide. Also expected in Birmingham are Eric Brown, Mary-Sophie Harvey, Patrick Hussey and Katherine Savard, who also compete at the FINA World Championships.