As pools across the country re-open and clubs return to the water, Swimming Canada is launching a national #SwimAgain Challenge to the swimming community.

Beginning the last week of September, some of Swimming Canada’s top national team athletes and coaches are challenging all Canadian swimmers to re-engage and reconnect with the sport through fun weekly activities.

The six-week #SwimAgain Challenge, which runs through the week of Nov. 2, will provide a fun opportunity for club swimmers to race their teammates, as well as being ranked against others from coast to coast. Clubs will be able to opt in each week by submitting results via email. Weekly results will be posted on the dedicated #SwimAgain Challenge webpage, along with random prize draw winners at noon ET each Wednesday.

“The #SwimAgain Challenge is a great way for all our swimmers, coaches and clubs to engage with swimming, as they return after the extended layoff. I am calling on all coaches to set up this challenge in your program for your swimmers to re-engage and swim again,” said Swimming Canada High Performance Director and National Coach John Atkinson. “This challenge is an opportunity to bring Canadian swimmers together to see what they can do in pools across the country. It’s about each individual, no matter their age, looking to improve and have some fun along the way, as a united Canadian swimming community.”

The challenge will culminate in a grand prize draw on Nov. 18, sponsored by the Chicken Farmers of Canada. The winning club will be selected at random from all participating clubs, and will receive a celebrity swimmer Zoom meeting and gift certificates for all participating swimmers from Swimming Canada partners.

Speedo and All Tides are working together on a Speedo Fundraiser offered out to all registered clubs to purchase their Speedo gear through the All Tides website and 20 per cent of all purchases will go back to help clubs with expenses.

“This challenge was a great collaboration of all the different departments within Swimming Canada to build the next phase of the #SwimAgain campaign that has anchored our storytelling over the past few months,” said Swimming Canada Events Manager Jocelyn Jay, who led the months-long planning process for the project.

“It is exciting to offer different challenges that aren’t our typical competitive events and have everyone within our membership participate,” Jay said. “We are looking forward to having as many members of the Canadian swimming community on board as we celebrate the relaunch of our sport.”