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Shima Taghavi Resets Canadian 11-12 NAG Record With 2:32.99 200 Breast, Would Be #1 In U.S.

2024 BC Winter Provincial Championships

  • March 7-10, 2024
  • Victoria, British Columbia
  • LCM (50 meters)
  • Results

Canada has long been searching for a top female breaststroker, and while some candidates have emerged in the present, the future is looking bright.

Shima Taghavi, a 12-year-old from the Hyack Swim Club, rebroke the girls’ 11-12 Canadian National Age Group Record in the 200 breast at the B.C. Winter Provincials on Thursday, clocking 2:32.99 to lower her own mark of 2:33.65 established in January.

Prior to that January swim, the record had been on the books for 38 years, with Allison Higson having established a mark of 2:34.11 at the 1986 Commonwealth Trials.

Split Comparison

Taghavi, January 2024 Taghavi, March 2024
35.25 35.03
1:15.24 (39.99) 1:14.25 (39.22)
1:54.63 (39.39) 1:53.81 (39.56)
2:33.65 (39.02) 2:32.99 (39.18)

Perhaps the most impressive stat about Taghavi’s swim is that it would rank #1 all-time in the U.S. 11-12 age group, more than a second faster than the record of 2:34.28 set by Annie Zhu in 2007.

All-Time Top 5, U.S. Girls 11-12 200 Breaststroke (LCM)

  1. Annie Zhu, 2:34.28 – 2007
  2. Mikayla Tan, 2:34.53 – 2022
  3. Carly Geehr, 2:34.95 – 1997
  4. Meghan Lynch, 2:35.97 – 2016
  5. Kristen Caverly, 2:36.18 – 1997

Taghavi’s early 2024 long course swims come on the heels of a blistering end to her short course season, having broken a 25-year-old NAG record in the SCM 11-12 200 breast (still 11 at the time) in December.

At 12, Taghavi ranks 11th in Canada so far in 2024.

Taghavi also set a new B.C. Provincial Record in the 100 breast at the meet, clocking 1:12.65 to sit #2 all-time in Canada behind Higson’s 1:10.94. (In the U.S., 1:12.65 would rank 5th.)

She incredibly won all 11 events she raced at the meet (LCM), nine of them in personal best fashion:

  • 200 free – 2:16.53
  • 200 back – 2:28.46
  • 50 breast – 34.11
  • 100 breast – 1:12.65
  • 200 breast – 2:32.99
  • 100 fly – 1:06.25
  • 200 fly – 2:28.66 (PB is 2:25.92)
  • 200 IM – 2:28.53 (PB is 2:24.53)
  • 400 IM – 5:08.26

Hyack Swim Club, based in New Westminster, B.C., was also home to male age group standout Laon Kim before he moved to the University of Calgary Swim Club (UCSC) last year.

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Danjohnrob
7 months ago

Wow, I was thinking that Canada’s depth on the women’s side might be lacking in 2028 with some anticipated high-profile retirements, but I was very wrong!

ecoach
7 months ago

What is also impressive is Allison Higsons time from 1986 would be ranked #1 in the USA.

Swumswims
7 months ago

The 11/12 Canadian record books are getting rewritten this season between this and Annie Xu (11) who is breaking all of Summer McIntosh’s FR and IM Ontario records. Some crazy swims at the recent LC provincial championships https://www.swimrankings.net/index.php?page=meetDetail&meetId=643740&clubId=74026

KRB
Reply to  Swumswims
7 months ago

Which records of Summer were broken?

Last edited 7 months ago by KRB
yesmk
Reply to  KRB
7 months ago

200fr, 400fr, 800fr, 400im i believe might be more

"we've got a boilover!"
7 months ago

Props to her, Coach Frici, head coach Lenny and the program.

Ouch
7 months ago

I’m confused as to why Mikayla Tan is listed since she is not American.

zThomas
Reply to  Ouch
7 months ago

Those are the top 5 American swims.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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