Saskatoon swimmer sets a Canadian record before heading to Olympics

Blake Tierney went into a May swimming trial hoping to qualify for the Olympics. He ended up not just qualifying, but smashing his own expectations in a historic night.

The 22-year-old swimmer, who lists Saskatoon as his home town, punched his ticket to the Paris Olympics after winning the 100 metre backstrokeon May 14at the Canadian Olympic Swimming Trials in Toronto.

"It was very surreal and it almost didn't hit me immediately," Tierney said.

With the pressure of qualifying for the 100 metre backstroke lifted, Tierney approached the 200 metre race with a relaxed mindset, not expecting to qualify in this event as well.

"I went into it thinking, 'Let's go have fun, let's go race my own race. Whatever happens, happens.'"

He then broke the Canadian record with a time of 1:56.

"Looking at the board, I was really surprised. I almost had to double take it because I thought I'd seen something else. I was very surprised but very happy and grateful for that."

Blake Tierney qualifies for 1st Olympics in the 100m backstroke

5 months ago

Duration 1:43

Tierney finished with a time of 53.48 at the 2024 Canadian Olympic & Paralympic trials.

Some of the credit for that record-breaking performance can go to his time with the Saskatoon Goldfins swimming program.

His coach, Steven Hitchings, still remembers meeting him for the first time.

"Blake was very respectful to myself and the coaches and got along with the teammates right away. He always had a lot of energy and determination," Hitchings recalled. "He did his best to create a good environment around the team and in the club to ensure everyone was progressing."

Hitchings also remembered how quickly Tierney adapted and improved as a swimmer.

"Blake always had a good amount of skill and was always willing to learn. He would notice things, like how university swimmers did their underwater dolphin kicks, and he'd ask if he should try it. He was able to make changes right away and see significant improvements."

Tierney now swims with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. On top of his training, he is also pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering.

"It definitely comes with its challenges. Sometimes I have to miss class. It's pretty much trying to balance two things at once," Tierney said.

LISTEN: Blake Tierney talks to CBC's The Afternoon Edition about his swimming success

The Afternoon Edition - Sask7:19Saskatoon swimmer secures spot on team Canada at Paris 2024

We are just two months away from the summer Olympics. And a Saskatoon athlete has his eyes glued to gold. Swimmer Blake Tierney spoke to the Afternoon Edition's Peter Mills about what it's like to qualify and prepare for the Olympics.

As Tierney heads to the Paris Olympics, Hitchings expressed his pride in Tierney's achievements.

"Every time he comes back to Saskatoon, he's humble and talks with the other swimmers," he said. "I'm very proud of his journey and that he's made it to this stage."

And while Tierney will be competing alongside swimmers who have their sights set on an Olympic goldmedal, he's more focused on his performance rather than the result.

"When you think about the outcome, you can really get crushed by that amount of pressure," he said, adding he simply feels grateful to don the maple leaf in Paris.

"I feel so blessed and honoured representing Saskatoon."