Swimming Canada Names Aiden Norman Male Junior Swimmer of the Yr
Swimming Canada final week named Aiden Norman its male junior swimmer of the yr.
Norman, 18, hails from the College of Calgary Swim Membership. Norman was a standout on the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, doing the male backstroke double to go together with 4 relay medals (two silver, two bronze).
“It means a lot to me to be named Junior Swimmer of the Yr as there are such a lot of nice younger swimmers in Canada,” Norman mentioned in a press launch. “It’s an honour. The previous yr main into the Canadian Olympic Trials and the Junior Pan Pacific Championships had so many ups and downs, however to see the entire work that I put in repay means the world to me and I’m completely happy that I obtained to finish my junior profession off on such a excessive word.”
Norman began swimming at age six and admitted he “utterly sucked at swimming” till about age 10. He caught with, particularly by the COVID-19 pandemic, when months away from coaching examined his connection to the game. However his household inspired him to maintain going. He’s now a freshman on the College of Florida, considered one of a quintet of Canadians in Gainesville that features Olympic medalist Josh Liendo.
He represented Canada on the 2023 World Junior Championships. At Olympic Trials, he fell shy of a spot on the Paris Video games, ending third within the 100 backstroke in 53.99, .25 seconds off the A lower that two countrymen hit. He was tied for third within the 200 again at 1.4 seconds off the A lower, which was achieved by Blake Tierney in a nationwide file.
As an alternative of Paris, he turned a frontrunner for Staff Canada in Canberra, the squad having its most profitable meet ever two golds (each Norman’s) and 16 complete medals.
“I’m not often wanting to be a frontrunner, however I’m keen to be one after I have to be,” Norman mentioned. “Carl informed me earlier than I left that I’d have to be a frontrunner, as I had a stable quantity of worldwide expertise. Taking this duty severely, I ready myself to assist information the crew towards success. This journey has taught me invaluable classes about management and ready me for future challenges.”
“He’s at all times had good bodily skills, however the maturity and a spotlight to element he’s proven in recent times is a credit score to him,” College of Calgary Swim Membership Carl Simonson mentioned. “It takes time, it’s a course of and he needed to develop from a younger boy to a younger man. He has positioned an enormous belief in me, and I felt a giant duty to him due to that.”
Learn the complete profile of Norman right here.
