This preview article for the 17^th FINA World Championships is powered by Canada’s Dairy Farmers’ Fuelling Women’s Champions, a movement dedicated to recognizing and empowering our country’s female athletes

By Jim Morris

Chantal Van Landeghem is most comfortable being a part of the whole. The Olympic bronze medallist contributes the most when she feels part of a team.

“For me, my performances are usually a lot better on a relay than individually,” said Van Landeghem. “You’re competing for three other girls. They are your teammates, they are your friends.

“For me it’s more fun, it’s more exciting.”

Van Landeghem’s belief in the importance of teamwork has played a major role in her success in the pool – and the classroom.

The 22-year-old was part of Canada’s 4×100-metre freestyle relay team that finished third at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. While swimming at the University of Georgia the Winnipeg native was a 19-time All-American and part of two NCAA team titles but still managed to graduate with a perfect 4.0 grade point average while majoring in psychology.

“You can only get so far by yourself,” said Van Landeghem, who will be part of the Swimming Canada team that will compete at the upcoming FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

“I’ve been super fortunate whether I have been in the States or up here in Canada to be surrounded by an amazing support system. I truly believe that without that outside help I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Van Landeghem took the 2015-16 year off from university to concentrate on training with coach Ben Titley at the Swimming Canada High Performance Centre – Ontario.

In addition to the 4×100 free medal, she also swam the freestyle leg of the 4×100-m medley relay in Rio, which finished fifth in Canadian record time. In individual events, Van Landeghem reached the semifinals in the 50-m and 100-m freestyle.

After the Games Van Landeghem returned to Georgia where she was elected a team captain and became the first UGA student-athlete to win the Dean William Tate Award in recognition of a 4.0 GPA.  She also was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District At-Large Team.

Juggling training and the classroom wasn’t easy, but Van Landeghem said the load was a little easier to carry with the support of her coaches and college professors.

“Definitely you have to have time management skills,” she said.

“The coaches are super understanding that academics come first. It’s a whole unit in the background that is working to see you succeed. That kind of made it possible for me to really excel both in and out of the pool.”

Van Landeghem also received a $7,500 Postgraduate Scholarship from the NCAA, which awards 87 to women and 87 to men annually. After the world championships Van Landeghem plans to return to the University of Winnipeg to pursue her Master’s in sports psychology.

“I’ve always been extremely interested in psychology and how the brain works and why we do what we do,” she said. “While I was at school I got interested in the sports side of that.

“For me, being an athlete (and) having gone through some ups and some downs I find that really intriguing.”

Van Landeghem believes her experience as a swimmer gives her credibility when working with athletes. She’s lived the elation of standing on the Olympic podium and dealt with the devastation of missing qualifying for the London 2012 Games by 1/100th of a second.

“I think it doesn’t hurt that I’ve sort of reached the pinnacle of sport,” she said. “I kind of know how it feels to deal with heartbreak. I’ve also dealt with some super high-pressure situations like when I made the team in 2016.”

Van Landeghem doesn’t see sports psychology as a magic bullet that guarantees success. For her, it’s a piece of the puzzle which also includes proper training and nutrition.

“It’s a great tool if an athlete wants to utilize it,” she said. “A lot of it comes down to mental toughness.

“For me, there is a big benefit in working on that mental side, working on being the best when it matters most.”

Having that right mental attitude contributed to Van Landeghem earning a spot on Swimming Canada’s team in Rio.

“In 2012 I placed so much pressure on myself and trying to make the team,” she said. “In 2016 I went into it with a have-fun mind set.

“The Olympic Trials are probably the most pressure an athlete will ever feel. Just learning how to deal with that and what to expect and how to get your body ready to perform for me was crucial. That’s something I didn’t have in 2012.”

Putting mind over matter isn’t always easy.

“It’s easy to say ‘stay positive and practice and embrace pain,’ ” she said. “The sports psychologist in me wants to say these things.

“When you’re actually in the pool, it’s very tough mentally to actually do those things. It’s something I am always working towards. I’m not perfect at it, I’m not even close.”

The women’s 4×100-m freestyle team of Van Landeghem, Sandrine Mainville, Taylor Ruck, Penny Oleksiak and Michelle Toro (then Williams) made a statement in Rio. Van Landeghem knows things won’t get any easier at the world championships, where all but Ruck are returning.

“It’s one thing to go and win a medal in relay,” she said. “I think it’s even harder to back that up the next year.

“The pressure is on all of us to go there and show the world it wasn’t just a fluke. It’s going to be tough this summer. We are going to have to be at our absolute best to be threats for that podium again.”

Looking past this summer, Van Landeghem plans to continue swimming while working on her Master’s.

“I’m going to keep swimming as long as my academic schedule allows it,” she said. “Right now I’m really enjoying it.

“I still have fun every day at the pool. As long as I’m still having fun and I’m still competitive internationally, I kind of think why not?”

Fuel for Thought with Chantal Van Landeghem

What does it take to fuel a woman champion? It takes training, support, determination, perseverance, drive, and of course a balanced diet filled with nutritious food including at least three servings of dairy daily. Here is a look inside what it takes to fuel Chantal Van Landeghem:

Q: What does typical day of a high-performance competitive swimmer look like for you?

A: Now that I’ve graduated from the University of Georgia, it’s been easy to focus 100% of my time and energy into swimming. I wake up around 7 (and have my coffee!) then head to the pool for three hours. Then I come home, nap, and get ready to head back to the pool for our afternoon session.

Q: How important is nutrition to a competitive swimmer and how do you ensure you get the proper nutrition to fuel your body?

A: One of the biggest things I’ve learned throughout my swim career is how important it is to properly fuel your body, especially as a high-performance athlete. My diet is something I’m constantly thinking about.

Q: What are some staple foods in your diet?

A: Chicken and salmon are my go to’s!

Q: What are some of your favourite things to eat before and after training?

A: Greek yogurt is one of my favourite recovery foods after a hard swim practice. It’s packed with protein and tastes delicious, especially if you add some fruit or peanut butter.

Q: What is your favourite way (other than swimming) to keep active and fit?

A: I like exploring whatever city I’m in, either by foot or bike. I also enjoy hot yoga on recovery/off days.

Q: What do you do to get pumped up before a race or workout?

A: I don’t have to do much – the sport itself and the adrenaline of a race usually do the trick.

Q: What show are you watching/book are you reading?

A: The TV show “Skins.”

Q: What is your favourite place you have travelled to?

A: Barcelona.

Q: After your swimming career comes to an end, where do you see yourself or what do you want to be remembered for?

A: I’m attending grad school in the fall to become a sport psychologist. I want to be remembered for having a positive impact on my teammates and the sport.