Celebrating Success: Highlights from the Canadian Olympic Trials

Goldfins swimmer Blake Tierney secured his spot to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics in July 2024. Achieving Team Canada's swimming team selection, he surpassed the Olympic qualifying time standards in the 100M Backstroke and the 200M Backstroke. Not only did Blake achieve this remarkable feat, but he also clinched Gold medals in the same events while setting a new Long Course Canadian Record in the 200M Backstroke at 1:56.74. Additionally, Blake set Senior Provincial Long Course records in the 100M Backstroke at 53.48 and the 200M Backstroke, and established Goldfins Club Long Course Open records in the 100M and 200M Backstroke, as well as in the 200M IM at 2:02.34.

Blake Tierney expressed his overwhelming joy after breaking the Canadian record for the 200m backstroke and meeting Olympic qualifying standards in both the 100m and 200m backstroke events in Toronto. Reflecting on his success at the 2024 Trials, he described it as an unforgettable moment, beyond anything he could have imagined since childhood.

Acknowledging the challenges and triumphs along the way, Tierney credited his coaches, family, friends, teammates, and support staff, particularly the Saskatoon Goldfins and head coach Steve Hitchings, as well as the Vancouver High Performance Center and coach Scott Talbot, for helping him achieve this remarkable milestone.

Looking ahead to his Olympic journey, Tierney expressed his gratitude for everyone involved in his success and his excitement to represent Canada on the Olympic stage. As he resumed training, he eagerly anticipated the opportunity to continue making his country proud in the future.

Another Goldfins swimmer, Holden Lees, posted a faster time than the Long Course Saskatchewan Provincial Male 15-17 record and established a new Goldfins LC Club record in the 100M Breaststroke at 1:05.44, previously held by Brayden Hemeon in April 2019. Abby Gebhardt and Keiran Dyck also set new Club records, with Abby achieving a personal best in the 100M Breaststroke at 1:12.39, surpassing her previous record set earlier this season at 1:13.28. Keiran surpassed the Club record in the 800M Freestyle with a time of 8:26.97, a record previously held by former Goldfins swimmer Andrew Makosiej at 8:29.48 dating back to July 2009.

Overall, Goldfins swimmers achieved 10 personal best times at this championship swim meet.

Abby Gebhardt

100M Breaststroke – Junior – 10th Place

Keiran Dyck

400M Freestyle – Junior - 10th Place

400M IM – Senior – 20th Place

800M Freestyle – Junior – 8th Place

200M Fly – Senior - 18th Place

Brayden Hemeon

100M Breaststroke – Senior – 20th Place

200M Breaststroke – Senior – 20th Place

Ethan Hemeon

100M Breaststroke – Senior – 15th Place

200M Breaststroke – Senior – 12th Place

Ella Howe

50M Freestyle – Senior – 35th Place

Holden Lees

100M Breaststroke – Junior - 10th Place

Isabel Magus

50M Freestyle – Senior – 49th Place

Blake Tierney

100M Backstroke – GOLD Medal

200M Backstroke – GOLD Medal - Canadian Record

200M IM – Senior -  5th Place

Bryce Tierney

100M Breaststroke – Junior – 32nd Place

200M Breaststroke – Junior – 21st Place

200M Backstroke – Junior – 28th Place

Congratulations to Abby Gebhardt, Keiran Dyck, Brayden Hemeon, Ethan Hemeon, Ella Howe, Holden Lees, Isabel Magus, Blake Tierney, Bryce Tierney, and Head Coach Steven Hitchings for their outstanding performance at the national championship meet. Special thanks to Kae-Lynn Gebhardt and Laddy Hemeon for supporting our Goldfins National Team.

The Goldfins Swim Club is set to compete in the 2024 Cascade Swimming International and the 2024 Lasers LC Invitational from May 31 to June 2, 2024.

Go Goldfins Go!

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