2024 Canadian Olympic & Paralympic Trials: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2024 CANADIAN OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC TRIALS

• May 13-19, 2024
• Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre – Toronto, Ontario
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• Swimming Canada Paralympic Selection Criteria 
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Day 1 Finals Heat Sheet 

Day 1 Finals Schedule

• Men’s Open 400 Free
• Women’s Open 400 Free
• Women’s Para 50 Fly (S5-S7)
• Men’s Para 50 Fly (S5-S7)
• Women’s Para 100 Fly (S8-S10, S12-S14)
• Men’s Para 100 Fly (S8-S14)
• Women’s Open 100 Fly
• Men’s Open 100 Breast

After the medal ceremonies, there are also ‘B’ and junior finals for each event

Day 1 Finals Stream, courtesy of CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.4222145

Good evening everyone — after an intruiging prelims, it’s time for the first finals session at the 2024 Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Trials. The session kicks off with the men’s 400 freestyle, which Lorne Wigginton, the top seed after prelims (3:50.07), has scratched. That leaves Eric Brown (3:53.03) to lane 5, with Ethan Ekk seeded about three-tenths behind him.

It’s the Summer McIntosh show in the women’s 400 freestyle. The 17-year-old kicked off her busy Olympic Trials schedule with a 4:09.83 in prelims, coasting to the top time of the morning. McIntosh is the former world record holder in the event; she was the only one in the field sub-4:12 in the morning, so don’t be surprised if this turns into a race against the clock for McIntosh.

Like McIntosh, Maggie MacNeil is aiming to secure a bid to her second Olympic Games this evening. MacNeil put up a 56.54 in 100 fly prelims, setting herself apart from the field with the swim of the morning. That’s her fastest swim since the 2023 World Championships.

To close out the session, there’s a tight race brewing in the men’s 100 breast final. Reigning world champion Finlay Knox put up the fastest time of the morning (1:00.97). He’s sitting just ahead of Gabe Mastromatteo, Apollo Hess, and Brayden Taivassalo. That trio are separated by .23 seconds coming out of prelims. All three will be looking to bridge the gap to Knox and get their hands on the wall either first or second.

MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE– Final

• World Record: 3:40.07– Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• Canadian Record: 3:43.46 – Ryan Cochrane (2014)
• 2021 Champion: Peter Brothers – 3:49.35
• OLY Qualifying/Consideration Standards: 3:46.78/3:47.91

Top 10: 

1. Alex Axon (MAC) — 3:50.10
2. Eric Brown (PCSC) — 3:52.27
3. Jeremy Bagshaw (ISC) — 3:52.87
4. Ethan Ekk (UN-CAN) — 3:53.85
5. Timothe Barbeau (NN) — 3:55.32
6. Jordi Vilchez (BTSC) — 3:56.00
7. Nathan Versluys (UCSC) — 3:56.74
8. Zachary Parise (PCSC) — 3:56.91
9. Sebastian Paulins (BRANT) — 3:57.06
10. Edouard Duffy (CAMO) — 4:01.51

Top qualifier Eric Brown took over this race early, flipping in first at the 100-meter mark in 55.87. The PCSC swimmers set the pace through the majority of the race; he turned in the lead at the halfway mark (1:55.13) and still held the lead with 100 meters to go.

But Alex Axon, who swims at Ohio State, was gaining on him. He moved into second at the 200 mark (1:55.20), and continued to inch closer to Brown over the third 100. Axon turned on the jets with 100 meters to go, taking over the lead from Brown at the 350. Axon continued to press his advantage on the closing 50 meters, putting in a final 50 over a second faster than the rest of the field.

Axon earned the win in 3:50.10, slightly off the 3:49.33 personal best he swam in April at the Canadian Open and outside of both the Olympic Qualification and Consideration times. Brown held on for second in 3:52.27, with Jeremy Bagshaw touching third in 3:52.87.

WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE– Final

• World Record: 3:55.38 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2023)
• Canadian Record: 3:56.08 – Summer McIntosh (2023)
• 2021 Champion: Alyson Ackman – 4:10.92
• OLY Qualifying/Consideration Standards: 4:07.90/4:09.14

Top 10:

1. Summer McIntosh (SYS) — 3:59.06 *Olympic Qualifying*
2. Julie Brousseau (NKB) — 4:08.12 *Olympic Consideration*
3. Julia Strojnowska (LOSC) — 4:11.08
4. Ella Cosgrove (DSC) — 4:12.16
5. Megan Willar (PCSC) — 4:14.36
6. Kathryn Hazle (UN-CAN) — 4:14.68
7. Mabel Zavaros (MAC) — 4:15.97
8. Laila Oravsky (BTSC) — 4:17.90
9. Maxine Clark (UCSC) — 4:18.67
10. Tori Meklensek (DSC/SFU) — 4:23.49

As expected, this race was all McIntosh.

Early on, McIntosh was almost dead-on the pace of her own personal best of 3:56.08 that was done at last year’s Trials which at the time was a World Record. On Monday, she split 1:56.0 in the first 200 meters, whereas she split 1:55.9 when she set that World Record last year.

She fell off the pace on the back-half, going 2:57.35 to the feet. McIntosh eventually earned the win in 3:59.06, which means that not only does she almost certainly qualify for her second Olympic Games, but she takes over the fastest time in the world this year. Titmus previously held that mark with the 3:59.13 she swam about a month ago at the 2024 Australian Open.

• McIntosh 2024 Trials Splits: 56.0/1:56.0/2:57.3/3:59.0
• McIntosh 2023 Trials Splits: 56.4/1:55.9/2:55.8/3:56.0

Behind McIntosh, Julie Brousseau shattered her personal best time for second place. The Florida commit had never been under 4:11 until this session, where she dropped 3.20 seconds and hit the wall in 4:08.12. She was well under the Olympic Consideration time but just missed the Olympic Qualifying Time. Because McIntosh was under the Qualifying Time, Brousseau would need to be under the Qualifying Time as well for Canada to send a second swimmer.

Julia Strojnowska claimed third in a personal best of 4:11.08 and Ella Cosgrove rounded out the top four with a personal best of her own (4:12.16). For both swimmers, that marks their first sub-4:13 outings.

WOMEN’S PARA 50 BUTTERFLY– Final

• Canadian Para Record S5/Paralympic MSQ/MET: 54.24 — Jordan Tucker (2022)/51.52/57.92
• Canadian Para Record S7/Paralympic MSQ/MET: 32.99 — Danielle Dorris (2021)/38.23/40.45

Top 10:

1. Danielle Dorris (CNBO) — 32.99 *TIE World Record/Canadian Para S7 Record*
2. Tess Routliffe (UL) — 36.26 *MSQ*
3. Hannah Ouellette (LASER) — 58.57
4. Jessican Tinney (AJAX) — 1:01.07

Danielle Dorris likely punched her ticket to the 2024 Paralympic Games in superlative fashion, tying her world and Canadian S7 Para Records. Dorris stopped the clock in 32.99, which ties her record from the 2020 Paralympic Games.

Swimming in the S7 category, Tess Routliffe was also under the MSQ, the minimum qualifying standard, with a 36.26.

MEN’S PARA 50 BUTTERFLY — Final

• Canadian Para Record S5/Paralympic MSQ/MET: 42.21 — Tyson Jacob (2023)/36.61/38.77
• Canadian Para Record S7/Paralympic MSQ/MET: 32.65 — Jean-Michel Lavalliere (2013)/32.50/34.08

Top 10:

1. Charle Giammichele (GHAC) — 33.88 *MET*
2. Sebastian Massabie (PSW) — 39.68

Swimming in the S7 classification, Charle Gianmichele earned the Minimum Entry Time (MET) in the men’s para 50 butterfly.

Sebastian Massabie typically swims in the S4 classification, but the 50 butterfly is not a Paralympic event for that classification. He’s also eligible to race in S5, which is what he did today. In prelims, he swam an S4 world record time of 38.68. He was a bit slower here in the final, touching in 39.68.

WOMEN’S PARA 100 BUTTERFLY– Final

• Canadian Para Record S9/Paralympic MSQ/MET: 1:11.04 — Stephanie Dixon (2008)/1:12.53/1:14.85
• Canadian Para Record S10/Paralympics MSQ/MET: 1:06.86 — Jaime Cosgriffe (2024)/1:13.42/1:19.75
• Canadian Para Record S13/Paralympics MSQ/MET: 1:06.49 — Valerie Grand’Maison (2008)/1:12.61/1:17.25
• Canadian Para Record S14/Paralympics MSQ/MET:  1:09.17 — Angela Marina (2023)/1:10.45/1:11.70

Top 10:

1. Jaime Cosgriffe (OAK) — 1:06.75 *Canadian Para S10 Record and MSQ*
2. Mary Jibb (MUSAC) — 1:12.54 *S12 MET*
3. Angela Marina (BRANT) — 1:10.08 *S14 MSQ*
4. Maxine Lavitt (UMAN) — 1:12.51 *S13 MSQ*
5. Emma Van Dyk (BROCK) — 1:14.27

Jaime Cosgriffe, a relative newcomer to the Paralympic scene, reset her Canadian Para S10 record here in the women’s para 100 butterfly final. Cosgriffe, who said after the race that she was happy with the swim but it was not her goal time, swam a 1:06.75, bettering the 1:06.86 she logged earlier this year.

She was one of three swimmers who hit their respective MSQs: Angela Marina and Maxine Lavitt also got under the time standard in their respective classifications. Marina swam a 1:10.08, which is less than a second off the Canadian S14 Para Record that she swam last season.

MEN’S PARA 100 BUTTERFLY– Final

• Canadian Para Record S8/Paralympics MSQ/MET: 1:06.39 — Phillipe Vachon (2017)/1:05.27/1:07.01
• Canadian Para Record S10/Paralympics MSQ/MET: 57.77 — Nathan Stein (2014)/59.48/1:01.71

Top 10: 

1. Reid Maxwell (EKSC) — 1:06.34 *Canadian Para S8 Record and MET*
2. Fernando Lu (LOSC) — 59.35 *S10 MSQ*
3. Alexander Elliot (CNQ) — 59.45 *S10 MSQ*
4. Philippe Vachon (MEGO) — 1:08.29

Make that two Candian Para records in as many events. Following up Cosgriffe’s performance in the women’s para 100 butterfly, Reid Maxwell set a new national standard of his own. The 16-year-old Maxwell broke Phillipe Vachon‘s national S8 Para Record–which had stood since 2017–by five-hundredths.

Maxwell has been breaking Canadian para records left and right this season, primarily in freestyle and backstroke events. Here in the 100 fly, he was out in 30.79 then came home in 35.55 to just get under Vachon’s mark and earn an MET cut.

In the S10 classification, Fernando Lu led the way as both he and Alexander Elliot earned MSQ cuts. Lu’s time is a personal best and is his first time breaking 1:00 in this event. His previous lifetime best was 1:00.08, which he swam in March 2024.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY– Final

• World Record: 55.48 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2016)
• Canadian Record: 55.59 – Maggie MacNeil (2021)
• 2021 Champion: Maggie MacNeil – 56.19
• OLY Qualifying/Consideration Standards: 57.92/58.21

Top 10:

1. Maggie MacNeil (LAC) — 56.61 *Olympic Qualifying Time*
2. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAMO) — 57.32 *Olympic Qualifying Time*
3. Rebecca Smith (CASC) — 57.89 *Olympic Qualifying Time*
4. Danielle Hanus (PARID) — 58.87
5. Katerine Savard (CNQ) — 58.93
6. Leilani Fack (LOSC) — 59.44
7. Kamryn Cannings (UCSC)/Ashlyn Massey (PCSC) — 1:00.05
8. (tie)
9. Genevieve Sasseville (WS) — 1:00.58
10. Katie Forrester (MAC) — 1:00.60

Maggie MacNeil will get the chance to defend her Tokyo Olympic title. The official announcement for Canada’s Olympic team won’t be made until the end of the meet, but MacNeil has all but booked her ticket to Paris with her win in the 100 butterfly tonight.

MacNeil dropped three-hundredths from her prelims time for a new season best of 56.61, which moves her into a tie with Claire Curzan for 8th in the world this season. It was Rebecca Smith who touched first at the 50-meter mark (26.74), though MacNeil was still out faster than she was this morning, 26.77 compared to 26.91. As is her style, she had a massive underwater to power her way to the win.

Mary-Sophie Harvey was 27.24 at the 50-meter mark. Behind MacNeil, she put in a huge 30.07 on the closing 50 meters to pull herself into second place and likely book her place on the Olympic team. Harvey has been putting up best times consistently throughout this season and this is another one for her; she swam 57.32, getting under the OQT and her previous best of 58.05. She swam that time at the April Canadian Open, which makes this a .73 second drop in about a month.

Smith was also under the OQT in 57.89 but finished third, which makes her ineligible to be nominated to the Olympic team in this event. She had a tough year in 2023, missing the World Champtionship team and withdrawing from Pan Pacs. So despite missing the Olympic team in the 100 fly, swimming 57.89–her best time since 2019 Worlds–is a good sign for her races later in the meet.

MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE– Final

• World Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2019)
• Canadian Record: 59.85 – Scott Dickens (2012)
• 2021 Champion: Gabe Mastromatteo – 1:00.75
• OLY Qualifying/Consideration Standards: 59.49/59.79

Top 10:

1. Finlay Knox (SCAR) — 1:00.66
2. Apollo Hess (HP-CON) — 1:00.99
3. Brayden Taivassalo (MAC) — 1:01.10
4. Gabe Mastromatteo (KSS) — 1:01.40
5. Oliver Dawson (GPP) — 1:01.47
6. Justice Migneault (HP-CVN) — 1:01.75
7. Luca Chiandussi (WEST) — 1:02.54
8. Justin Lisoway (UN-CAN) — 1:03.37
9. Christophe Raymond (MEGO) — 1:03.38
10. Brodie Khajuria (AJAX) — 1:03.55

We expected the men’s 100 breaststroke championship final to be a tight race and it lived up to the billing as the top five swimmers were separated by less than a second.

Finlay Knox earned the win by .33 seconds. Knox opened the race in 28.25, then split 32.41 on the back-half, turning on the jets at the right time to get ahead of the field for the win in 1:00.66. That’s a personal best time for Knox, undercutting the 1:00.91 he swam at the Canadian Open. Though he was off the Olympic Qualifying Time, he’s put himself in position to be named to Canada’s 4×100 medley relay team (again, that announcement will come later).

He out-touched Apollo Hess, the Canadian record holder in the SCM 50 breaststroke, for the win, who earned 2nd in a personal best of his own. Hess broke 1:01 for the first time, stopping the clock at 1:00.99, bettering the 1:01.72 he swam at the 2023 Canadian Trials.

Meanwhile, Brayden Taivassalo tied his personal best (1:01.10), finishing .11 seconds behind Hess for third and getting the better of Tokyo Olympian Gabe Mastromatteo by three-tenths.

GPP’s Oliver Dawson held onto his fifth-place in the standings, but dropped another lifetime best. Dawson climbed up to second in the Canadian boys’ 15-16 age group with his 1:01.52 in prelims. He improves that second-fastest all-time mark with a 1:01.47 in the finals, shaving another .05 seconds off his best.