Mix competitive swimming and lifeguarding and you get lifesaving — a challenging sport that could become part of the Olympics.
Two teenagers from Cochrane have been selected to represent Team Canada at the World Lifesaving Championships later this month.
Isaac Thibodeau, 17, and teammate Oliver (Oli) Johnson, 15, will head to Gold Coast in Australia on Saturday ahead of the competition on Aug. 28.
The international championships showcase the excellence in life-saving sports and rescue every two years.
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“I’m immensely grateful and happy that I get to represent Canada,” Thibodeau said.
He described the sport as a combination of competitive swimming and lifeguarding, which can make for a challenging duo.
The teenagers both work as lifeguards at Cochrane’s SLS Centre and are part of the town’s Lifesaving Swim Club — the Cochrane Water Ninjas.
“It’s very different to the summer swimming, or what we would think is traditional swimming,” said Kate Johnson, Oli’s mother. “These swimmers are incredible — hats off to them.”
Thibodeau discovered his passion for life-saving in 2019, and quickly rose through the ranks, performing on the Commonwealth team in 2023. Now he’s among six athletes that have earned a spot on the Canadian squad.
A competitive swimmer since nine years old, Oli began his journey with life-saving sport about two years ago — looking for a different aquatic sport in the winter, he landed at the Cochrane Water Ninjas.
Oli was announced as a member of Team Canada in May.
“He loves being in the pool and he is also doing really well with the sport,” said Kate. “I don’t think many people know that lifeguarding is a sport, and nor did I.”
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Thibodeau was first announced as an alternate for Canada back in February, learning just two weeks ago that he would officially be on the team.
Heather Barr, one of Thibodeau and Oli’s coaches with Team Canada, said life-saving is unique, being the only sport rooted in “humanitarian philosophy” by way of drowning prevention.
Athletes have to foot the bill for competition in Australia, and both Thibodeau and Oli have been raising money through GoFundMe.
Oli’s fundraiser reached nearly $1,400 as of writing and Thibodeau’s surpassed the $5,000 goal, with additional money raised going toward equipment and future competitions.
Training for Thibodeau involves a lot of time in the pool — about nine times per week over the summer — along with nutrition, sleep, hydration and mental preparation.
Oli’s training is similar, and involves many early morning practices, Kate said.
One of Thibodeau’s favourite events, 200-Metre Super Lifesaving, starts with a 75-metre swim to retrieve an 80-pound mannequin off the bottom of the pool.
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Athletes then carry the mannequin for 25 metres, don fins and secure a rescue tube before swimming 50 metres with both to recover a 45-pound mannequin — finally towing it to the finish line.
Other events, such as beach flags, involve running on sand, which affects muscles differently than regular track — Barr likened it to trail running.
When it comes to training, Thibodeau said, “we don’t really focus on one thing at all . . . and that allows us to be kind of like a Play-Doh that kind of pushes us into any cracks and holes that need to be filled.”
Barr says they provide ongoing support throughout the year for national athletes as their skills progress.
Videos of training sessions help coaches to provide feedback and give “points of improvement” Barr says.
“Talk about nutrition, talk about rest . . . teenagers hate to sleep . . . those kind of things, to get them on track,” said Barr.
Kate said that being able to represent Canada on the world stage hasn’t quite sunk in yet for Oli.
“When I get there . . . as a mom and as a supporter, it will be another moment of realization,” said Kate.
“I’m proud of him, I really am. I mean, what parent wouldn’t be incredibly proud.”
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Barr emphasized that the experience athletes will gain from the competition in Australia provides an “incredible opportunity” for learning.
About 5,000 athletes from 80 countries will attend the championships this year.
“The competition is fierce . . . and in Canada, you can be the top of the game and go there and not place higher than 20th,” said Barr.
Hopes are that Canada will place in the top 10 this year.
“We’ve got a really strong team going, but the experience is intense training prior to an intense five days of competition,” she said.
For athletes like Thibodeau and Johnson that coach and train in their own capacity, Barr says it allows them to bring things home to be shared with other athletes.
For Oli, Kate hopes the experience in Australia will be positive.
“Absorb the experience of being part of a team representing his country, being around other phenomenal athletes from all over the world,” she said.
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“I don’t ever want to add the pressure of medals and positions . . . that’s never been our focus in sports,” Kate said. “You train hard, you remain focused, you go for an experience; we always learn from these experiences.”
There are talks of life-saving becoming a demonstration sport during the Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics in Australia, with organizations for the sport lobbying for its inclusion.
“Trust me, it’s a huge hope,” Barr said.
“It would be a dream to be able to be able to compete at the Olympics in this sport,” Thibodeau said. “If that ever becomes an opportunity, I’ll definitely put my name forward.”
“I’m really hoping that it appears in the Olympics, for sure, because these athletes are tremendous,” Kate said.
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