Markus Thormeyer has opened the 2019 Canadian Swimming Trials in Toronto by breaking a nine-year-old national record.
The 21-year-old from Tsawwassen captured the men’s 100-metre backstroke on Wednesday night in a winning time of 53.35 seconds. That broke the old mark by .28 — set by Pascal Wollach.
“It was a goal,” said the former Winskill Dolphins Swim Club standout about the Canadian record. “I don’t really like to place expectations on myself. I’m just trying to do the best I can. If the best I can is a new Canadian record, I’m happy with that.”
The performance also made the standard for the World Championships.
Thormeyer will also be favoured to repeat in the 200 back and 200 free. He was second in the 100 free at the 2018 Canadian Trials.
The trials, which end Sunday, have attracted 627 athletes (346 female, 281 male) representing 157 clubs. That includes international competitors from 21 countries: Algeria, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.
In addition to coveted Team Canada spots at the FINA World Championships and World Para Swimming Championships, athletes will also be selected for the Pan American Games, Parapan American Games, FISU Summer Universiade and FINA World Junior Championships.
