Canada Names 64 Swimmers for Pan Pacific Championships

POLICY WIRE — Ottawa, Canada — Swimming Canada has announced a 64-athlete roster to represent the country at the upcoming 2026 Pan Pacific and Para Pan Pacific Championships in California, according to a release from the organization. The team selections followed performances at the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials held in Montreal.

The delegation includes 44 swimmers for the Pan Pacific roster, comprising 22 women — and 22 men. An additional 20 Para athletes were selected for the Para Pan Pacific team. Olympians Summer McIntosh and Taylor Ruck are set to headline the Pan Pacific squad after their performances at the national trials.

McIntosh, who continued her season with notable achievements, established a new world record in the women’s 200-meter butterfly. She completed the event in two minutes and 1.65 seconds, thereby surpassing what was described as the oldest women’s long-course world record, Swimming Canada reported.

Taylor Ruck secured five national titles during the trials, marking one of the most successful meets of her career. Her victories included the 100-meter backstroke, 100-meter freestyle, — and 100-meter butterfly. This achievement made her only the second Canadian swimmer to win three different strokes at a single national trials event, according to the national governing body.

Lorne Wigginton is also part of the Pan Pacific team, having rewritten Canadian swimming records in Montreal. The 26-year-old broke the country’s longest-standing men’s swimming record in the 400m individual medley. “Every summer I have the goal to represent Canada again,” Wigginton said in a statement. “It’s a great feeling to be named to the team. Every time feels the same as the first.”

The Paralympic squad will be led by veteran athletes Tess Routliffe — and Nicholas Bennett. Aurélie Rivard is also returning to international competition after taking a season off to complete law school. Rivard earned her place on the team by winning three events at the trials.

Other medal-winning Para athletes named to the team include Nicolas-Guy Turbide of Quebec City, Fernando Lu of Burnaby, B.C., and Sebastian Massabie of Surrey, B.C. All three athletes set Canadian records in their respective events, Swimming Canada stated. Tess Routliffe expressed optimism about the team, stating, “I’m looking forward to cheering them on and seeing what we can all do,” and added, “The new generation are very positive and really strong.”

John Atkinson, Swimming Canada’s high-performance director, commented on the team’s composition in a release. “This team has a really nice mix of experienced athletes and swimmers who have earned their first opportunity to race on a stage like this,” Atkinson stated. He added that “Pan Pacs will be an important test as we continue building toward the Los Angeles Olympics.”

The Pan Pacific Championships are scheduled to begin on August 10 with open-water competition, followed by pool racing from August 12-15 in Irvine, California. The Para Pan Pacific Championships will take place later in the month, from August 28-30, in Walnut, California.