2025 World Aquatic Swimming Championships in Singapore
At the recent World Aquatic Swimming Championships in Singapore Oliver Dawson competed for team Canada against the best swimmer in the world.
In the morning heats on day 3 of the competition, Oliver swam a personal best 27.55 in the 50-m breaststroke to tie for 32nd. That was just 0.1 from Scott Dickens’ 16-year-old Canadian record. Oliver said;
“It’s surreal! the people, the lights, it’s crazy,” said Dawson of his first world long-course race. “I’ve just been waiting.”
Day four the 4×100-m mixed medley relay team of Kylie Masse, Oliver Dawson, Josh Liendo and Taylor Ruck swam a Canadian record 3:40.90, just 0.07 ahead of Netherlands for a historic bronze medal!
Asked if he was nervous, Dawson said, “I wasn’t 100 per cent nervous, but I was a little nervous.
“I’ve done the work to be able to do this and I know my teammates have as well,”
Oliver also lowered his 15-17 national age group record in the 200-m breaststroke twice in a day. After qualifying for semifinals in 2:11.07, he improved to 2:10.32 in the evening session to finish 11th.
“Being able to do this three-day stand is experience and I should be ready to go by (the men’s medley relay) Sunday,” said the Grande Prairie (Alta.) athlete, who also swam the fastest 50 breast by a 17-year-old Canadian (27.55) earlier in the meet.
On the last dat of competition the men’s 4×100 medley relay of Blake Tierney, Oliver Dawson, Ilya Kharun and Josh Liendo swam a Canadian record 3:29.75 to finish fifth.
“We’re only going to get stronger the next three years,” said Tierney, the oldest member of the group at 23. Liendo is 22, Kharun 20 and Dawson making his world long-course debut at 17. “We’re all quite young in our career and I think we’ll be primed for (the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games).”
Congratulations OIiver on an amazing week!
