Saskatoon Goldfins Excel at the 60th Mel Zajac International Swim Meet

The Saskatoon Goldfins Swim Club recently showcased their talents at the prestigious 60th Mel Zajac International Swim Meet, held from May 16 to 18, 2025, at the University of British Columbia Aquatic Centre in Vancouver, B.C. The event provided a platform for 23 Goldfins swimmers to gain invaluable experience and compete against some of the best swimmers in the world.

Reflections from Head Coach Steven Hitchings

Goldfins Head Coach Steven Hitchings expressed pride in his team's performance, noting, "Congratulations to the swimmers at Michelle Moore and Mel Zajac! Everyone had some best times and certainly learned a lot over the past two weeks." Hitchings emphasized the importance of observing top athletes, stating that the Goldfins swimmers were able to learn from the best by watching how elite swimmers prepared and executed their race plans. He highlighted the dedication of top athletes, noting their commitment to pre-race physiotherapy, well-rehearsed strategies, and the use of advanced racing gear.

Keiran Dyck Achieves Milestone

Among the standout performances, Goldfins swimmer Keiran Dyck achieved a Swimming Canada Junior Trials Qualifying Time Standard in the 100M Breaststroke with a time of 1:07.45. This accomplishment qualifies him to compete in the upcoming 2025 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials, scheduled for June 7 to 12, 2025, in Victoria, B.C. This event will serve as a selection trial for several international competitions, including the 2025 World Aquatics Pool Swimming Championships.

Impressive Performances by Goldfins Swimmers

The competition at the Mel Zajac International Swim Meet was fierce, with a deep field of talented swimmers. Several Goldfins athletes placed in the top 30 of their respective events:

• Abby Gehardt: 22nd place in the 100 Breaststroke and 9th place in the 50 Breaststroke
• Avery Houle: 18th place in the 50 Breaststroke
• Landon Kennedy: 25th place in the 1500 Freestyle
• Sophia Klawitter: 23rd place in the 1500 Freestyle
• Keiran Dyck: 23rd place in the 100 Breaststroke and 26th place in the 200 Freestyle
• Isabel Magus: 27th place in the 100 Fly

Additionally, Sophia Klawitter (1500 Freestyle), Joseph Shao (200 Backstroke), and Jordan Szutiak (200 Freestyle) achieved Swim Saskatchewan Senior Provincial Time Standards in their respective events.

Gratitude & Looking Ahead

The Goldfins swimmers and coaches extend their heartfelt gratitude to Tina Zimonick and Sean Nave for their unwavering support and guidance during this travel tour. We also wish to express our appreciation to Mel Zajac Sr. and Mel Zajac Jr. for their generous contributions to competitive swimming. A special thank you goes to the Meet Management Committee, as well as the UBC Thunderbirds and Vancouver Pacific Swim Club, for graciously hosting this remarkable competition.

The Goldfins Swim Club is eagerly preparing for their next competition, the CSI 2025: Mini Pro & Singapore Sling, which will take place from May 29 to June 1, 2025, in Calgary, AB. The team is looking forward to building on their recent experiences and continuing their journey of growth and success.

With the #GoldfinsRacing spirit, the Saskatoon Goldfins are poised to make waves in future competitions, inspired by their recent achievements and the lessons learned from competing at such a high level.

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