By Jim Morris
A new year brings optimism and fresh goals for swimmers at the High Performance Centre – Vancouver.
“You come back from a break, refreshed, and you get another shot at rebuilding your stroke and really set yourself up for the summer,” said Calgary native Cole Pratt, who overcame a nagging shoulder injury to earn a spot on Swimming Canada’s team at last summer’s World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. “We’re just rebuilding the stroke, learning new things and getting ready to swim fast.”
Blake Tierney hopes to build on the momentum that saw him set a Canadian record and finish fourth in the 200-metre backstroke in Singapore.
“It’s always nice to have a little bit of a break for Christmas,” said the Saskatoon native. “You’ve had a nice little mental break but you’re not out of shape so you can still swim pretty fast when you come back.
“You start January off and look forward to what is to come this year.”
Head coach Scott Talbot likes the energy he has seen at practices early in 2026.
“It’s an exciting time,” said Talbot. “It’s a new cycle. It’s always nice to finish a cycle, consolidate and start another one.”
The Vancouver centre has a mix of veterans, including Olympians Yuri Kisil, Finlay Knox, Ingrid Wilm and Emma O’Croinin, plus new swimmers Aiden Kirk and Jaques Harrison, who competed at last summer’s World Junior Championships in Romania.
Kirk, who previously swam with the Kelowna Aquajets, said training with athletes who have competed at Olympics and world championships makes him work harder.
“It’s fun, honestly,” he said. “To be with people at that level makes me feel like I need to elevate my game to get to that level as well. I feel like I need to push myself harder to be part of the group.”
Another new addition to the Vancouver centre is Taylor Ruck. The three-time Olympian from Kelowna, B.C., joined the HPC-Vancouver last fall after spending several years training in the U.S.
“A little bit of change, of something new,” said Ruck. “I had worked with Scott a little before. I like the group here. I felt like being here would be really good.
“Also, being in Canada as a Canadian is awesome.”
Talbot said adding someone like Ruck, who has won four Olympic medals and 16 more at world championships (9 long course, 7 short course), is a “no brainer.”
“She brings a lot of experience but also a work ethic, habits and behaviour,” he said. “For me, being able to work with an athlete who has been as successful over such a long period of time as Taylor Ruck was a great opportunity. Not only on a personal coaching level, but to have her experience and professional habits in our centre is a great opportunity. For our athletes to work with her and compete with her daily in our environment brings everybody’s level up.
“Our aim at HPC-Vancouver is to provide the best environment for athletes to prepare to compete at the highest level possible,” Talbot added. “If Taylor is able to take her swimming to the next level while building a life here she can move forward with at the same time, we will be pleased with that.”
Talbot said there is always a risk introducing new swimmers into a group, but he’s confident in Swimming Canada’s processes.
“Our staff – both within the centre and the national High Performance staff – make the process strong and robust when it comes to being able to bring in the best athletes,” Talbot said.
Both veterans and newcomers agree there are benefits to training at a Swimming Canada High Performance Centre.
“Everyone here has the same goals as you,” said Pratt. “Everyone wants to swim fast and everyone wants to be the best. When you’re around that, it pushes you to a higher level.
“I’ve trained at a club with kids my age and trained on my own. Training with the centre is the easiest way to get those results and the easiest way to push yourself. Any day of the week, any practice, someone is ready to go fast. If you’re not going with them, then they’re going by you. You’ve got to be on it.”
Kirk has already seen his swimming progress in the few months he’s been at the centre.
“I come from a small program, there’s not a lot of kids my age who I can race in practice,” he said. “Coming there, there’s more kids that I can actually push myself in practice with. It’s really helped my growth.”
Ruck, who also trained at the High Performance Centre – Ontario, enjoys being part of a like-minded team.
“I like the competitive atmosphere and how tight knit the group is,” she said. “Everybody looks toward one goal. It just helps my mind lock in.
“I’ve been very grateful to be part of this group and see how they operate. I get to see the fire and the spirit in everybody’s eyes.”
Another advantage of a High Performance Centre is the assistance offered through the Integrated Support Team (IST).
The range of services the IST offers include performance analysis, physiology, strength and conditioning, nutrition, mental performance, health services, life services and innovation and technology.
“It’s everything you need,” said Pratt. “I have a lot of shoulder, back and knee issues. Having a physio just ready anytime I can go to is perfect.
“We have a team doctor if we’re sick and we have a sports psych that’s helping us out mentally if we need it.”
Ruck finds the video analysis provided beneficial.
“It’s game changing,” she said. “We get video analysis. We can ask for it whenever we want. You can work with the coaches here and the resources to take things to different levels than you’ve ever been to before.”
Talbot said the IST support can sometimes be the missing ingredient a swimmer needs.
“Swimming isn’t a linear progressive sport,” he said. “People get better often until they don’t. Then you are looking at marginal gains.
“Sometimes it can be one of the IST areas that we have around the swimmers that can give them that little breakthrough they need.”
For further information on Swimming Canada High Performance Centres.