The University of Calgary Swim Club will be taking 12 swimmers to compete in the 2021 Canadian Trials in Toronto. These Trials are set to select the Canadian Olympic Team and are invitation only. Stage 1 of the Trials will be in late May and Stage 2 in late June. Since 1980, our program has had a storied Olympic history with the likes of Tom Ponting, Mark Tewksbury, Curtis Myden, Mike Brown, Penny Heyns, Alexandra Lys, Erica Morningstar, Fiona Doyle, Jason Block and many many more. We want to continue the streak of Olympians from UCSC and need your help to prepare for this wonderful opportunity.
We are looking for contributions to help pay pool rental fees due to the current COVID restrictions in Alberta. We have a high-performance exemption that allows us to prepare for the Trials and Olympics with fewer restrictions. With true high performance in mind, we need your help to train in a pool where we must pay pool rental fees to the tune of $44,000 until the end of June.
Our Olympic Hopefuls:
Tristan Cote
Tristan started swimming competitively at the age of 5 for Scottsdale Aquatic Club before moving to Etobicoke, Ontario. He has been with UCSC for the past 8 years. This is his 3rd Olympic Trials, and he will be swimming the 400 Freestyle and the 400 I.M. He has had some experience with our Big Dino Little Dino program, teaching younger kids some tricks that he wishes someone had taught him when he started. Tristan thinks, that as a younger athlete, there's nothing like actually swimming with someone who can correct things that others may not see or understand. Fun fact: he plays the guitar. Tristan’s favourite dinosaur is a Rapto(r).
Peter Brothers
Peter started swimming in 2005 for the Canmore Coho Summer Swim Club and has been with the Dinos since he started his undergraduate degree in Zoology 5 years ago. He has competed for the Canadian National Team at the 2019 World University Games, the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, and the 2016 World Championships during his time at the University of Calgary. The 2021 Olympic Trials will be his third Olympic Trials. Peter will be competing in the 200, 400, 800, and 1500 freestyle. A fun fact about Peter is that he was born in the United States and his favourite dinosaur is the Sauroposeidon. Peter says "GO DINOS!"
Marit Anderson
Marit first started swimming in 2011 at age 11 with the Calgary Patriots. She started swimming with UCSC when she started University 3 years ago. This is her second Olympic Trials and she is swimming the 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle. Marit has participated in our Big Dino Little Dino Program where senior swimmers help coach our youngest swimmers. Her favourite dinosaur is a Bronto(saurus)
Stephen Calkins
Stephen started swimming when he was 6 years old with the Pickering Swim Club. He has been swimming with UCSC since 2011. This is Stephen's second Olympic Trials and he will be swimming the 100m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly and 50m Freestyle. Stephen's favourite dinosaur is Mike Blondal.
Emil Goin
- Coming soon!
Rob Hill
Rob is from North Vancouver and started swimming with Chena Swim Club. He has been with UCSC for the past 5 years. Rob is a USport and National Champion who will be swimming the 200 IM and 200 Backstroke at Olympic Trials this year. Rob is currently attending the University of Calgary and is a Finance major. Besides swimming, Rob enjoys surfing, skiing and fantasy football.
Matt Ketchin
Matt has been swimming since he was 3. He started swimming with Cascade Swim Club, here in Calgary. This is his second season swimming with the University of Calgary (and 19th season overall!). This is his first Olympic Trials and he will be swimming the 200 Breaststroke and 400IM. A fun fact about Matt is that he has gotten at least one best time at almost every swim meet he has ever been to. His favourite dinosaur is a plesiosaurus.
Alicia L’Archeveque
Alicia started swimming when she was 6 years old at Churchill Aquatic Center in Calgary and has been with UCSC for 9 years. This is her first Olympic Trials and she is very excited! She will be swimming the 100 Breaststroke. Her favourite dinosaur is the Rapto(r)!
Madison Macor
Madison started swimming with the Milton Marlins at 10 but has loved swimming in the pool since I was a toddler. She qualified for her first Trials competition at the age of 15, but this will be her first Olympic Trials. This is her first year swimming with the UCSC team and she will be swimming the 200 Breaststroke. Fun fact: her initials are MMM and each of them starts with Ma- Madison Marie Macor. Her favourite dinosaur is Brachiosaurus.
Alison McCloy
Allison started swimming with UCSC when she was 9 years old after watching the 2008 Olympics on TV! Alison previously competed at the 2016 Olympic Trials so this will be her second Olympic Trials. She will be swimming in the 400IM, 400 free and the 800 free. As a little Dino she always admired the Big Dinos that would come and swim with them, and she was fortunate to get to be a Big Dino with the Churchill Squad for 2 seasons after joining the Varsity Team. A fun fact about Allison is that she has been in the same heat, for at least one event, with fellow Dino Kate Rendall for the past 8 years. Her favourite dinosaur is a Stegosaurus.
Brian Palaschuck
Brian started swimming in Regina with the Regina Optimist Dolphins when he was a child. This is Brian’s first season with UCSC, but he is very happy to be part of the team. This is his second Olympic Trials. He will be racing in the 100 Backstroke, 200 Freestyle, 200 IM and 400 IM. A fun fact about Brian is that he is an English major in school and his favourite book is All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. His favourite dinosaur is a Spinosaurus.
Kate Rendall
Kate started swimming for UCSC when she was 5 years old. She competed at Olympic Trials for the first time in 2016 and is excited to do so again this year! She will be swimming the 400 IM and 200 Butterfly at the Trials. A fun fact about Kate is that she always swims in lane 3 at the U of C pool. Her favourite dinosaur is a Rapto(r).