McIntosh headlines powerhouse Canadian team at short course world championships | CBC Sports

Less than two months after one of its most successful Olympic Games performances in history, having won eight medals in Paris, Swimming Canada has unveiled its roster for the upcoming short course world championships set for December in Budapest.

A powerhouse team of 18 Canadians will take the pool inside Budapest’s Duna Arena led by 18-year-old swimming sensation Summer McIntosh.

McIntosh is widely regarded as one of the top talents globally having dazzled at the Paris 2024 Olympics after winning three gold medals and a silver medal.

“I am excited to end 2024 with the World Aquatics short course championships at one of my favourite venues and cities in the world,” McIntosh said in a Swimming Canada release.

“Team Canada typically brings a smaller team with a lot of spirit ready to embrace another opportunity to go up against the very best. It should be a lot of fun to race short course metres for the first time in a couple of years and great to see everyone again.”

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Budapest will always be a special place for McIntosh. It’s where she won her first two long-course world championship medals in 2022. She’s returning to short course worlds for the first time since the Abu Dhabi event in 2021.

At those worlds, McIntosh won her first international gold medal.

But McIntosh isn’t the only well-known swimmer donning the maple leaf at the upcoming worlds – seven-time Olympic medallist Penny Oleksiak is making her return to the 25-metre pool for the first time since 2016. At that world championship, Oleksiak won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal.

The Toronto-native rose to fame during the 2016 Rio Olympics by capturing four medals for Canada.

One of the country’s most consistent and decorated swimmers for nearly a decade, Kylie Masse, will also be joining the team in Budapest fresh off an Olympic silver medal in the 200m backstroke.

Large Olympic contingent

In total, 15 of the 18 members of the Canadian team competed in Paris. There is experience and depth. Ilya Kharun, who won two Olympic bronze medals at the Olympics, is also competing for Canada.

“As we move forward from a very successful summer that was focused on the Paris Olympic Games and backed up with our most successful Junior Pan Pacs performance, it is great to announce the world 25m championships team for Budapest as the first event in the quad to Los Angeles 2028,” John Atkinson, Swimming Canada high performance director, said.

“We have some great potential on this team and a blend of medal-winning experience and new athletes to the senior team.”

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Two rookies are set to make their senior national team debut in Budapest. Alexanne Lepage, a two-time junior world champion from Kelowna, B.C. and three-time Junior Pan Pacific Championship medallist, Oliver Dawson from Grand Prairie, Alta. have been named to the team.

“I’m excited to be named to my first senior team,” Dawson said.

Two Canadians stars won’t be attending – Josh Liendo and Maggie Mac Neil will not be competing in Budapest.

Mac Neil was the standout swimmer for Canada at the last short course worlds in 2022. Mac Neil won all of Canada’s gold medals (three).

At that world championship in Australia two years ago Canadians won a total of 14 medals, finishing fourth overall in the medal standings. They captured 15 a year previously in Abu Dhabi with seven golds, putting Canada second in the medal table only behind the United States.

Competition runs from Dec. 10-15.

Canada roster

• Sophie Angus — Norwalk, Conn.
• Alex Axon — Newmarket, Ont.
• Timothé Barbeau — Montreal
• Oliver Dawson — Grand Prairie, Alta.
• Emma Finlin — Edmonton
• Mary-Sophie Harvey — Trois-Rivières, Que.
• Tristan Jankovics — Puslinch, Ont.
• Ilya Kharun — Montreal
• Yuri Kisil — Calgary
• Finlay Knox — Okotoks, Alta.
• Alexanne Lepage — Kelowna, B.C.
• Kylie Masse — Lasalle, Ont.
• Summer McIntosh — Toronto
• Penny Oleksiak — Toronto
• Sydney Pickrem — Halifax
• Regan Rathwell — Ashton, Ont.
• Blake Tierney — Saskatoon
• Ingrid Wilm — Calgary