After completing the nationwide #SwimAgain Challenge, Swimming Canada’s next virtual offering will focus on reigniting the feel of competition in the pool.

Swimming Canada received more than 18,000 entries into its #SwimAgain Challenge, which saw 129 clubs across nine provinces and one territory take part in a six-week training challenge. The next step in the safe return of the sport is the Speedo #RaceAgain Challenge, a virtual competition open to all registered competitive swimmers, including Masters and Para swimmers.

“Our provincial sections, coaches, clubs, facility operators and partners have done fantastic work to get swimmers back in to the water,” said High Performance Director John Atkinson. “Swimming has been safe, risk mitigating plans exist, and our community will continue to follow these plans as we offer this opportunity to take the next step in the evolution to ‘race again.’ ”

Swimmers across the country will have the chance to race within their own clubs, and submit results. Clubs will have the flexibility to run any number of events or sessions, according to their needs and provincial requirements.

In lieu of the virtual Speedo Eastern Canadian and Speedo Western Canadian Championships Swimming Canada had hoped to offer, the core age groups from those championships will be ranked, with the addition of younger age groups to incorporate all competitive swimmers. Short-course standards have been created and swimmers achieving these standards will be acknowledged.

The challenge will be rolled out in multiple phases. With many clubs not able to access their full regular pool time in December, the challenge will begin with an “Intro Stage” from Dec. 11 to Jan. 10. In hopes of most clubs being fully returned by late January, the full Speedo #RaceAgain Challenge will being with Stage 1 from Jan. 29 to Feb. 7, followed by Stage 2 Feb. 26 to March 7, and Stage 3 April 9-18.

Swimming Canada will maintain an independent ranking of each event, over the different age groups and genders. For multi-class Para swimming events, performances for ranking and scoring will be assigned a point score from the Swimming Canada Para Swimming Points chart, and scored based on the Canada Games format of combining events. Each age group, gender and multi-class will have a leaderboard, posting a running tally of points across the events swum, which can fluctuate throughout the challenge.

“We recognize that not all of our clubs are able to access their pools, but it was important for us to offer a competitive opportunity for those who are in the water,” said Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi. “With the constant changes and fluidity of the global COVID-19 pandemic, there may continue to be difficult circumstances, but Swimming Canada will continue to promote swimming as a safe activity.”

Swimming Canada recently published Version 3 of its Return to Swimming Resource Document (LINK). Clubs and coaches are responsible for running their events safely in line with the most current health and safety protocols and risk mitigation plans as determined by their province.

Clubs will be levied a fee of $10 per participating swimmer, which will fund team and individual awards. Swimmers who meet the East/West qualifying standard at any point throughout the challenge will receive a certificate of achievement.

For further information, visit www.swimming.ca/raceagain