By Jim Morris<\/p>\n
A new year brings optimism and fresh goals for swimmers at the High Performance Centre \u2013 Vancouver.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou come back from a break, refreshed, and you get another shot at rebuilding your stroke and really set yourself up for the summer,\u201d said Calgary native Cole Pratt, who overcame a nagging shoulder injury to earn a spot on Swimming Canada\u2019s team at last summer\u2019s World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. \u201cWe\u2019re just rebuilding the stroke, learning new things and getting ready to swim fast.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always nice to have a little bit of a break for Christmas,\u201d said the Saskatoon native. \u201cYou\u2019ve had a nice little mental break but you\u2019re not out of shape so you can still swim pretty fast when you come back.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou start January off and look forward to what is to come this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Head coach Scott Talbot likes the energy he has seen at practices early in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an exciting time,\u201d said Talbot. \u201cIt\u2019s a new cycle. It\u2019s always nice to finish a cycle, consolidate and start another one.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Vancouver centre has a mix of veterans, including Olympians Yuri Kisil, Finlay Knox, Ingrid Wilm and Emma O\u2019Croinin, plus new swimmers Aiden Kirk and Jaques Harrison, who competed at last summer\u2019s World Junior Championships in Romania.<\/p>\n
Kirk, who previously swam with the Kelowna Aquajets, said training with athletes who have competed at Olympics and world championships makes him work harder.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fun, honestly,\u201d he said. \u201cTo 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cA little bit of change, of something new,\u201d said Ruck. \u201cI had worked with Scott a little before. I like the group here. I felt like being here would be really good.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso, being in Canada as a Canadian is awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u201cno brainer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe brings a lot of experience but also a work ethic, habits and behaviour,\u201d he said. \u201cFor 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\u2019s level up.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur aim at HPC-Vancouver is to provide the best environment for athletes to prepare to compete at the highest level possible,\u201d Talbot added. \u201cIf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Talbot said there is always a risk introducing new swimmers into a group, but he\u2019s confident in Swimming Canada\u2019s processes.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur staff \u2013 both within the centre and the national High Performance staff \u2013 make the process strong and robust when it comes to being able to bring in the best athletes,\u201d Talbot said.<\/p>\n
Both veterans and newcomers agree there are benefits to training at a Swimming Canada High Performance Centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone here has the same goals as you,\u201d said Pratt. \u201cEveryone wants to swim fast and everyone wants to be the best. When you\u2019re around that, it pushes you to a higher level.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve 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\u2019re not going with them, then they\u2019re going by you. You\u2019ve got to be on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kirk has already seen his swimming progress in the few months he\u2019s been at the centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cI come from a small program, there\u2019s not a lot of kids my age who I can race in practice,\u201d he said. \u201cComing there, there\u2019s more kids that I can actually push myself in practice with. It\u2019s really helped my growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruck, who also trained at the High Performance Centre \u2013 Ontario, enjoys being part of a like-minded team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like the competitive atmosphere and how tight knit the group is,\u201d she said. \u201cEverybody looks toward one goal. It just helps my mind lock in.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve 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\u2019s eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another advantage of a High Performance Centre is the assistance offered through the Integrated Support Team (IST).<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s everything you need,\u201d said Pratt. \u201cI have a lot of shoulder, back and knee issues. Having a physio just ready anytime I can go to is perfect.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a team doctor if we\u2019re sick and we have a sports psych that\u2019s helping us out mentally if we need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruck finds the video analysis provided beneficial.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s game changing,\u201d she said. \u201cWe 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\u2019ve ever been to before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Talbot said the IST support can sometimes be the missing ingredient a swimmer needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cSwimming isn\u2019t a linear progressive sport,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople get better often until they don\u2019t. Then you are looking at marginal gains.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes it can be one of the IST areas that we have around the swimmers that can give them that little breakthrough they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
For further information on Swimming Canada High Performance Centres.<\/a><\/p>\n