By Jim Morris

TORONTO – Things got a little crazy for Penny Oleksiak Tuesday night at the Olympic & Para-swimming trials, presented by RBC.

The Toronto teenager surprised herself with a record-breaking swim that earned her a trip to this summer’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The 15-year-old won the women’s 100-metre butterfly in 56.99 seconds, shaving  .28  off the Canadian record held by Katerine Savard. Brittany MacLean of Toronto also set a Canadian record, lowering her own standard in the 400-metre freestyle.

Oleksiak looked both thrilled and relieved after race.

“I didn’t know I was going to do that,” she said. “When I woke up this morning I was just trying to see how fast I could go. Going a 56.9 is insane.”

“When I woke up this morning I was just trying to see how fast I could go. Going a 56.9 is insane.” – Penny Oleksiak

The trials, which end Sunday, have attracted 762 swimmers from 187 clubs cross Canada, the United States and other parts of the world. The competition is being held at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, the same pool that hosted last year’s Pan American and Parapan Am Games.

All finals sessions will be webcast live on CBCSports.ca beginning at 6:45 p.m. ET.  For full results and more information visit www.swimming.ca/trials.

Noemie Thomas of Richmond, B.C., was second in the 100-fly in 57.02 seconds, well under the Olympic qualifying standard of 58.74.

“I can’t tell you how many times I have been thinking about this moment,” said Thomas. “Just having this dream finally come true, it’s surreal.

“At the same time, I know I have worked my butt off for the past four years. I can’t be more grateful for the support system I have.”

Oleksiak had turned heads Tuesday morning when her time of 57.38 seconds not only was the fastest of the heats but also was one of three under the Games’ qualifying standard of 58.74 seconds

Savard of Pont-Rouge, Que., who swam the event at the 2012 London Games, finished third in 57.75. Only the top two swimmers can be nominated.

MacLean’s time of four minutes, 3.84 seconds sliced 1.22 off her old record. She believes she can go even faster in Rio.

“It’s a really great benchmark right now,” said the 22-year-old, who has battled shoulder and leg injuries over the last couple of years. “I feel like I hit my training well.

“My goal tonight was just to get on the team. It (the record) was an extra special bonus.”

Taylor Ruck of Kelowna, B.C., was second in 4:09.93, just .85 of second off the qualifying time.

On the men’s side, both Jason Block and Luke Reilly just missed punching their tickets to Rio.

Block, of Calgary, was left riding a roller-coaster of emotions after winning the 100-m breaststroke in 1:00.59, just .02 over the qualifying time.

“When it’s that close you never really know until you touch the wall,” he said. “I’m happy to win, happy to get a best time but obviously very disappointed.

“It would have been a lot neater to get my name on that team.”

Reilly of Richmond, B.C., won the 400-m individual medley in 4:17.14, just .43 over the qualifying time.

Markus Thormeyer of Markham, Ont., won the 200-m freestyle in 1:48.17 but was about .20 of a second over the qualifying time.

Among the Para-swimmers, Aurelie Rivard of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., took her first step toward Rio by winning two races. She was timed in 28.04 seconds in the multi-class women’s 50-m freestyle, then won the 400-m freestyle in 4:39.56.

“It was like the ice-breaker event,” the S10 swimmer said after the 50 metres. “It was kind of stressful.

“The last time I was here, it was the Parapan Games. It was the best meet of my life, so I put some pressure on myself. Now I am quite happy with my race.”

Rivard won seven medals, including six gold, and set a world record during the Parapans.

Benoit Huot of Longueuil, Que., strengthened his bid to compete at a fifth Paralympics by winning the multi-class 400-m freestyle. The S10 swimmer was clocked in 4:09.89.

Nathan Stein of Maple Ridge, B.C., had the best time in the multi-class 50-m freestyle. The S10 swimmer was timed in 24.07.

Due to the nature of the selection criteria for the Para-swimming team, all nominations will be announced after finals on Sunday.