Two-time World Championship medalist and one of the fastest up-and-coming butterfly swimmers in the world, Ilya Kharun, has secured U.S. Citizenship.
An individual close to the situation confirmed to SwimSwam last week that Kharun has completed the process of becoming a citizen. They added that Kharun still plans on swimming for Canada at international meets moving forward, which means Kharun will almost certainly attend the Canadian Olympic Trials in May.
Kharun was slated to represent Team USA at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, but was removed from the roster when his citizenship status was discovered. As a result, his 15-16 100-yard butterfly national age group record was also officially invalidated.
Kharun competed at last week’s NCAA Championship meet, which was contested in short course yards (SCY), where he helped the Sun Devils win their first ever National Championship title. Kharun contributed with an individual win in the 200 butterfly (1:38.26) as well as a 5th place finish in the 100 fly (44.26). His 100-yard fly time was a new best time, undercutting his previous mark of 44.32 by 0.06, while his 200 fly was just off his lifetime standard. He is the third fastest performer of all-time in the 200-yard fly, courtesy of his 1:37.93 marker from a January dual meet with Stanford.
Kharun swam for Team Canada at two separate World Championship meets, with the 2022 Melbourne Short Course Championships representing his debut. In Melbourne, he claimed two medals, an individual silver in the 100 fly and a bronze in the 4×50 mixed medley relay.
At last summer’s Fukuoka World Championships, Kharun’s best finish was in the 200 LCM fly, where he tied for 4th in 1:53.82. American Thomas Heilman matched him in that final, where both walked away with personal bests.
Kharun owns six Canadian records, which are in the following events:
- 50 Butterfly (SCM) — 22.28
- 100 Butterfly (SCM) — 49.03
- 200 Butterfly (SCM) — 1:50.86
- 200 Butterfly (LCM) — 1:53.82
- 4×100 Freestyle Relay (SCM) — 3:07.10
- 4×50 Mixed Medley Relay (SCM) — 1:36.93
In order to represent a country at an international competition, World Aquatics requires an individual to either be a citizen of the country by birth OR reside in that country for at least three years. Kharun was born in Canada.
Just for context, to change sporting nationalities, the individual must wait a minimum of three years from when they last represented a country before competing for a new country at the international level. When changing sporting citizenships, an athlete must demonstrate uninterrupted residence in a country for three years prior to representing them, or prove a “genuine, close and established link to the country that he/she will represent.”
World Aquatics’ policy regarding nationality changes can be found here.
Besides the competitive implications, gaining US citizenship means that Kharun no longer needs a visa to attend college in the United States and can therefore cash in freely on any Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities.
He can’t take NIL money unless he’s a citizen… Texas has a pot full
Canada feels a lot safer choice if goal is to make Olympics. Less competition
That’s pretty crazy that he tried to sneak on the world junior team for the US without being a citizen. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very sympathetic to the struggles to get citizenship in this country, I just can’t believe he (and his family/coaches) didn’t realize that would be discovered
He didn’t try to “sneak” onto the team. His family believed he was eligible. If I understand correctly – I might not – he met World Aquatics regulations to compete for the U.S. but not USA Swimming’s requirements. An understandable misunderstanding, even if one that ideally would have been investigated earlier by his coach with USA Swimming – but we don’t know who knew what and when they knew. Maybe his parents didn’t tell his coach.
This is totally his parents’ fault. They knew he was born in Montreal. Even if both parents are American citizens you need to go to all legalities to apply for your child to obtain American citizenship. When you register your swimmer with USA swimming you have to indicate if you are American or not, clearly they ticked the box for many years until there was a whistle blower.
Just another case of America and America Junior being interchangeable
There are many of them out there.
Given the choice between maple syrup and high fructose corn syrup, I know which I’d pick.
NIL?
Very good observation.
you should mention that in the article. ; )
Plus just not having the hassle of having to worry about visa/residency status and all that. It’s not like he’s ever going to “move back home” to Canada like many other Canadian NCAA’ers often do.
That’s a lot of work just to be able to swim for Texas.
NOT REALLY!
After all, we are in the Bob Bowman era, right?
Anybody know how long Canada lets their citizens have dual citizenship for
No restrictions.
So…he was Canadian in 2022 and in two years he is now an American citizen? That was a speedy process. Even with a permanent status (USA resident) you need at least four years before applying for citizenship. Feel free to correct me.
He was eligible to apply for US citizenship for a while already, he just hadn’t done it yet.
For-eva
Canada, just like the US, places no restrictions on holding multiple citizenships.