Maggie MacNeil is an Olympic champion in the 100 fly who represents Canada internationally. She is a 3x individual NCAA champion for Michigan and Louisiana State.
College
Michigan
2018-2019
Maggie MacNeil had an immediate impact at Michigan her freshman year. At the Big Ten Championships, she won individual titles in the 50 free (21.65) and 100 fly (49.59). She also won as part of Michigan’s 200 and 400 free relays. At the NCAA Championships, Macneil placed 2nd in the 100 fly (49.66), 4th in the 50 free (21.50), and 6th in the 100 back (50.98).
2019-2020
MacNeil kept her good times rolling from the summer of 2019 into the collegiate season. At her midseason meet, the Minnesota Invite, MacNeil tied the NCAA and US Open record in the 100 fly, touching at 49.26.
At the B1G Champs, she started things off by breaking a record in a different stroke, this time the 50 back, throwing down the fastest split of all-time at 23.05 by leading off the 200 medley relay. She continued her momentum by taking titles in the 50 free (21.30), 100 fly (49.42), and 100 free (46.57), the last of which put her at #7 all-time.
2020-2021
Heading into the 2021 NCAA Championships, after they were canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maggie MacNeil going head-to-head with Kate Douglass in 3 races was the narrative of the meet and one that did not disappoint. In the 50 free, Douglass topped MacNeil barely, winning 21.13 to Maggie’s 21.17. Later in the session, MacNeil led off Michigan’s 400 medley relay in 49.76 to help the wolverines place 4th.
In the 100 fly, MacNeil not only won round 2 but did so in record fashion, touching at 48.89 to become the first woman in history under 49 seconds. Douglass was 2nd at 49.55.
Round 3 was the 100 free and MacNeil once again got the better of Douglass, touching first in 46.02 to Douglass’ 46.30.
2021-2022
At her final NCAAs with Michigan, MacNeil placed 3rd in the 50 free (21.38) and 100 fly (49.18) and 10th in the 100 free (47.42).
After the 2022 NCAAs, MacNeil entered the transfer portal and eventually announced her intent to go to Cal for her 5th year of eligibility. However, after allegations against Cal head coach Teri McKeever of athlete abuse rose, MacNeil ultimately decided to join her old coach, Rich Bishop, at Louisiana State.
Louisiana State
2022-2023
MacNeil helped the Tigers take the program to new heights, starting at the SEC championships. Maggie split field bests in booth the 200 and 400 free relays, helping LSU to historic wins in both events. She also claimed her first individual SEC titles in the 50 free (20.98), 100 fly (48.99), and 100 free (46.27).
At her final NCAAs, MacNeil continued carving her name in history, winning the 50 free in a new NCAA record of 20.79. In the 100 fly, she clocked a huge PB of 48.51, touching just .05 behind Virginia’s Kate Douglass. The pair clocked the 2 fastest ever in the event. MacNeil finished her meet with a 3rd place finish in the 100 free (46.58). MacNeil also helped LSU score their first relay points at the NCAA champs in program history, clocking a 20.37 in the 2nd leg of the Tigers’ 200 free relay to help them finish 5th.
International Competition
2019 World Championships
MacNeil started her world championships in the women’s 4×100 free relay, where she split 53.18 on the 4th leg to help Canada get a bronze medal.
On day 2, Macneil turned heads as she upset 4-time defending world champ Sarah Sjostrom in the 100 fly. Macneil had a huge turn at the 50 to run down Sjostrom and take gold in a new North American record of 55.83.
Macneil finished her schedule on Day 8 in the 4×100 medley relay, splitting a massive 55.56 butterfly leg to help Canada win another relay bronze.
2019 Swammy Awards
For her sensational year in both short course and long course, MacNeil earned the Breakout Swimmer of the Year and Canadian Female of the Year Swammy Awards.
2020 Olympic Games
MacNeil had a strong start to her Olympic Games. On Day 1, she advanced through the prelims and semi-finals of the 100 fly, heading into the final seeded 6th at 56.56. After the 100 fly semi on Night 1, MacNeil swam 2nd on Canada’s 400 free relay, splitting 53.47 to help Canada take 2nd place and earn a silver medal.
On Night 2, MacNeil solidified herself in Olympic history, charging from behind in the 100 fly final to take gold in a personal best of 55.59, the 2nd fastest time in history.
MacNeil finished her meet in the 400 medley relay, splitting 55.27 on the fly leg for Canada to help them secure a bronze medal in the event, giving MacNeil a medal of each color at her first Olympic Games.
2021 Short Course World Championships
MacNeil had a sensational return to form in Abu Dhabi, breaking a world record in the 50 back (25.27) en route to gold. She also won the 100 fly in 55.04. She also helped Canada to gold in the 400 free and mixed 200 free relays and silver in the 400 medley relay.
2022 World Championships
After announcing that she had sustained an elbow injury and would only be swimming relays, MacNeil came up big for team Canada in Budapest. She started things in the 400 free relay, where she split 53.27 on the 3rd leg to help Canada earn silver, even though she had a back spasm during the finals session.
On day 7, she swam prelims of the mixed 400 free relay, which went onto win silver in the final. On the last day of competition, MacNeil swam the fly leg on the 400 medley relay (56.80) to help Canada secure bronze.
2022 Short Course World Championships
MacNeil showed out in Melbourne, earning individual and relay medals alike. She earned gold in the 50 back (25.25) and 100 fly (54.05), setting new world records in each. She also tied for gold with USA’s Torri Huske in the 50 fly, setting a national record at 24.64. MacNeil swam on Canada’s bronze medal 400 free, 400 medley, and mixed 200 medley relays.
2023 World Aquatics Championships (Fukuoka, Japan)
Known for her ability to manage her energy through prelims and semis, MacNeil did just that in the 100 fly. She was a pedestrian 57.56 in prelims for 5th and a better 56.78 in semis for 3rd. After that semis, MacNeil had one of her best 100 free splits ever (53.07) on the Canadian 400 free relay that fell short of a medal. In prelims, she had led off in a PB of 53.77.
In the 100 fly final, MacNeil turned third (26.15), much higher up in the field than where she usually turns. She used her trademark underwater speed to vault herself into a race with Zhang Yufei. Coming down the stretch, MacNeil was actually leading the field, but found herself closed on by Zhang who get her hands on the wall first in 56.12. MacNeil took silver .33 seconds behind Zhang in 56.45, holding off defending world champion Torri Huske.
On the 400 mixed medley relay, MacNeil split 56.30 on the fly as Canada got 6th. She missed the semis in the 50 fly with a 26.33. Her 50 split from her 100 would have qualified. MacNeil finished the meet with a swift 55.69 split on the 400 medley relay as the Canadian women took bronze.
2024 Canadian Olympic Trials (Toronto, Canada)
Mac Neil had no issues in the 100 fly, winning in a solid 56.61. She dropped the 100 free but was added later to the roster thanks to her 100 free PB.
There was some controversy when MacNeil called on Swimming Canada to allow her coach to be added to the Canadian staff for Paris in spite of Swimming Canada rules which require coaches to live and work in Canada in order to be named to the national coaching staff. Summer McIntosh’s coach, American Brent Arckey, was added to the 2023 Worlds staff as a “personal support professional” and Mac Neil hoped for the same after Bishop was not named to the Hong Kong National national staff.
“I see where (the rules) come from — it’s rooted in history — but I think when you change the precedent for one coach, I don’t see why you can’t change it for everyone else,” MacNeil said. “Things are changing rapidly in the swimming world, and I don’t think it would hurt to look at things we could change as well.”
