Kharun Sets Canadian 50 fly Record on Final Night of Trials

VICTORIA – Ilya Kharun did all the little things right to record a big win on Thursday’s Bell Canadian Swimming Trials.

Kharun swam a blazing time of 22.68 seconds to break his own Canadian record in the 50-m butterfly. It was the fastest time in the world so far this year and eighth fastest in history.

“I’m so happy I got under the 23 (second) mark,” said the Montreal native who won all three butterfly events during the trials. “That’s what I wanted and I’m happy it happened.”

Kharun took .41 off the Canadian record he set earlier this year.  

Now an Olympic event, the 50 fly is a race that can be unforgiving.

“It’s timing and power,” said Kharun. “Every little detail matters in a 50 because one little mistake and that first place could go to fourth.

“It’s all about these little details.”

A Canadian record fell under different circumstances in the men’s 200-m freestyle.

Ethan Ekk, a native of Tallahassee, Fla., whose parents grew up in Vancouver, won the race in 1:48.53. That time was over the Swimming Canada secondary standard of 1:47.77 needed to compete at this summer’s World Aquatics Championships.

But then in the surprise of the meet, Antoine Sauvé of Montreal’s CAMO club swam 1:46.39 in the B final. Sauvé, who was born in 2005, broke the Canadian record of 1:46.40 Brent Hayden set at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

“That’s what I was training for. I didn’t like not being in the final but I just knew I was capable,” said Sauvé, who earned himself a spot on Canada’s world championships team by finishing second in the men’s 100 free earlier in the week. “I just went too easy (in the heats). I thought it was going to be easier than that but the guys went faster than I thought and I ended up missing it by almost nothing. It is what it is. I still managed to be ready tonight. Things happen but it’s not going to happen again.”

The top four finishers in the men’s and women’s 200 freestyle events will be selected to join Team Canada at this summer’s World Aquatics Championships.

There was a tie behind Ekk with both Jordi Vilchez of Barrie, Ont., and Filip Senc-Samardzic of Toronto timed in 1:48.83. Calgary’s Lorne Wigginton was fourth in 1:49.01.

Ekk, Senc-Samardzic and Wigginton had all earned selection in earlier events. Vilchez was thrilled about earning selection to the world team on the final night of trials.

“It means everything,” he said. “I spent all year working for this.

“I saw a lot of my teammates make it earlier this week. It just really drove me to want to get that spot.”

Two-time Olympian Mary-Sophie Harvey of Montreal’s CAMO club won the women’s 200-m freestyle in 1:56.60. It was the third win of the trials for the Trois-Rivières, Que., native who previously won 100-m butterfly and 200-m breaststroke.

“It’s been a long and exhausting week,” said Harvey, who finished fourth in the event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. “Honestly the goal was just to get to the wall, then move on and get ready for worlds.

“Last year left a little fire in me. Just being off the podium is extra motivation for the next three years.”

Ella Jansen of Burlington, Ont., was second in 1:57.33. Both times were under the AQUA A standard of 1:58.23.  

Sienna Angove of Kamloops, B.C., earned her way to world championships by finishing third in 1:59.07. Brooklyn Douthwright of Riverview, N.B., already selected for her performance in the 100 free, was fourth in 1:59.44.

In Para swimming, Tyson Jacob of Les Loutres swam a Canadian record of 45.51 in the S5 men’s 50-m backstroke.

Aly Van Wyck-Smart, an S3 swimmer from Whitby Swimming, swam a personal best time of 1:08.64 to win the multi-class women’s 50-m backstroke.

“I am happy but a bit disappointed,” she said. “My goal was to get the (Canadian) record and a Top 8 time in the world, but it was still a best time.”

Katie Cosgriffe, an S10 swimmer from the Oakville Aquatic Club, won the multi-class 100-m backstroke in 1:08.26. Cosgriffe won the 100 fly earlier in the week.

John Atkinson, Swimming Canada’s high performance director and national coach, was pleased with the results swimmers posted during the meet.

“We’ve heard it said that this is the golden age of swimming in Canada,” said Atkinson. “I think this has shown it really is. The performances continue to build year on year.

“It’s about making the most of the opportunities in our athletes.”

Atkinson thanked all the volunteers, pool staff, officials, coaches and clubs that helped stage the event.

He also thanked Swimming Canada’s partners.

“Performances like we’ve seen here come with a plan and a strategy,” said Atkinson. “We wouldn’t be able to do it without the continued support of Own the Podium, Sport Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee.”
The six-day trials attracted more than 700 swimmers to Saanich Commonwealth Place in Victoria. Athletes competed for selection to teams competing at four major international competitions: the World Aquatics Championships July 26 – Aug. 3 in Singapore, the 2025 FISU Games (Summer Universiade) July 17 – 23 in Berlin, the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships Aug. 19 – 24 in Otopeni, Romania, and the World Para Swimming Championships Sept. 21–27 in Singapore.  

For full results go to https://results.swimming.ca/2025_Canadian_Swimming_Trials/

Swimmers of the Meet