Swimming Canada will be sending some of its top swimmers to race against the best in the world at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The world short-course championships will take place from December 16 to 21 at the Etihad Arena, which will be transformed into a 25-metre temporary pool for the occasion.

This year’s event will have an Aquatics Festival that will run in parallel to the short-course championships. It will feature diving, high diving and open water. All events will take place on Yas Island.

Canada will be sending a group of 14 swimmers to the championships, all whom competed at this summer’s Tokyo Olympic Games. There will be four males and 10 females.

The team will include Olympic gold medallist Maggie Mac Neil, four-time Olympic medallist Kylie Masse and Canada’s most decorated Olympian Penny Oleksiak.

“We are delighted to select such a strong team to represent Canada at the FINA World 25-m Swimming Championships,” said High Performance Director and National Coach John Atkinson. “It will be a great finish to 2021 and the Olympic year and another opportunity for our athletes to swim against the best in the world in Abu Dhabi, UAE.”

Canada sent a small team of six to the last FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in 2018. The young team at the time used the competition as a learning experience. The team completed their mission by qualifying for the final in the women’s 4×100-metre medley relay.

This year’s team will continue the great momentum from the summer and focus on gaining more international racing experience in preparation for 2022.

“This competition will also act as a springboard into 2022 with our trials, the FINA World Championships and Commonwealth Games,” said Atkinson.

The athletes selected are: