Simon Fraser Aquatics (SFA) swimmer and Burnaby resident Collyn Gagne will represent Canada at the 19th FINA World Championships and XXII Commonwealth Games this summer.
Gagne successfully defended his 400-metre individual medley national title earlier this month at the 2022 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria. He won the event in a personal best time of 4 minutes 17.82 seconds.
Gagne was first after the opening 50 metres and didn't trail the rest of the way, winning by nearly two seconds at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
"I am very excited to represent Canada. I look forward to competing against the best in the world," said Gagne. "Although my performance to qualify was solid, I had set high expectations. My goal was to win and go under the FINA A standard, which I fell just short of. I aim to be even faster at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games this summer."
Gagne posted personal-best times in four of his five events at the Trials, qualifying for the A final in the 200m and 400m individual medley, along with the 200m breaststroke and 200m freestyle. Collyn won a gold medal in the 400m IM, silver in the 200m IM (2:00.37) and finished fifth in the 200 breaststroke, finishing in 2:17.91. He withdrew from the 200m freestyle final in preparation for the 400m individual medley.
The 4th year SFU Honours Economics student will take part in the 400 IM at the World Championships in Hungary in June. Gagne will swim the 200 and 400 IM races at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England later in July.
Gagne broke onto the international scene competing for Canada at the 2019 World University Games in Naples, Italy. Last summer he won the Canadian Olympic Trials in the 400m IM upsetting the 4-year reigning national champion, but unfortunately did not achieve the required standard to punch his automatic ticket to the Summer Games in Japan. Gagne carried forward his success into this season where he won silver in the 200 IM and bronze in the 400 IM at the US Open Championships in December.
Simon Fraser Aquatics swimmer Amar Fejzic qualified for the A final at the Canadian Trials in the men’s 50m butterfly. SFA had 15 swimmers competing at the 2022 Canadian Swimming Trials (Canada’s highest level swim competition).
Gagne said “I am thankful for all the support from the SFA coaching staff, the club administrators, and the City of Burnaby. Along with my teammates in training, it is making a difference for me, and I am excited to compete at this summer’s World Championships”.
“Congratulations to Collyn for an incredible performance at the Canadian Swimming Trials. The entire Burnaby community will be cheering you on at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games this summer,” said Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley. “Collyn’s success will inspire the next generation of Burnaby swimmers, who will be able to train at world class facilities like the future Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.
Paul McNamara, Vice President of Simon Fraser Aquatics, applauds the City of Burnaby for being active in youth sport and providing the facilities that make these dreams possible.
McNamara said “once Burnaby has completed the new Olympic-sized swimming pool, Burnaby will be one of the best places to train and race in Western Canada”.
In addition, McNamara feels this will provide Burnaby with sports tourism dollars with large meets being hosted at the new facility. McNamara said “this will change the face of swimming in BC and allow more youth to chase their dreams of representing Canada on the world stage”.
