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Toronto Pan Am pool to host 2020 Olympic and Para-swimming Trials

News –

OTTAWA – Swimming Canada has announced the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC) as the site of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Trials.

The fully integrated Trials will be held from March 30-April 5, 2020. The seven-day competition will showcase the highest calibre of Canadian swimmers competing for nominations to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic teams.

TPASC is no stranger to housing national and international competitions, having hosted the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games, and 2016 Olympic and Para-swimming Trials. Meanwhile, Canada’s top swimmers are getting ready for the 2019 Canadian Swimming Trials, which are being held at TPASC April 3-7 to select teams for this summer’s world championships and other competitions.

“Canadians have fond memories of recent events at this world-class facility,” said High Performance Director John Atkinson. “We really look forward to continuing the legacy of the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games and being back there for more fast swimming in 2019 and 2020.”

An exciting addition to the 2020 Trials program will be the debut of a junior final on the Olympic program side, meaning that 30 athletes will earn second swims in each event. The A final will feature the fastest 10 Canadians from the preliminary session, while the B final will contain the next fastest 10 senior swimmers born in 2001 or earlier, which may include up to four international athletes. The junior final will include the fastest 10 Canadian swimmers born between 2002 and 2006 who are not already competing in the A final. This creates another opportunity for junior swimmers vying for spots on the 2020 Junior Pan Pacific Championships team.

“This is fantastic for young Canadian athletes and their coaches to target coming to the Trials,” Atkinson said. “It will give more junior swimmers exposure to racing in the finals, which is great for the development of our athletes.”

The 2020 Trials schedule will closely mirror the 2020 Olympic program, allowing athletes to prepare for the order of events well in advance of the Games. With the Paralympic program spanning 10 days, Canadian Para-swimmers will have a more compressed schedule at the Trials, with events interspersed throughout the fully integrated competition. Time standards for Trials qualification and the event schedule can be found HERE.

“Trials is such a spectacular event,” said Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi. “They take us through all the emotions, they keep us on the edge of our seats. They take our breath away, make us pace anxiously, cheer with joy and jump and clap in awe.

“The athletes, with the support of coaches, volunteers, officials, and other personnel, are the catalyst for this amazing event. We will cheer for all the athletes and wish them success as they strive to achieve their dreams.”