Edmonton hosts 3rd edition of high-level swim meet

Three hundred athletes, including Olympians and Paralympians, are in Edmonton to compete at the 2026 Speedo Canadian Swimming Open at the Kinsmen Sport Centre.

Some of Canada’s top swimmers will dive into Edmonton pools this weekend for a high-level senior meet ahead of international competitions.

The 2026 Speedo Canadian Swimming Open at the Kinsmen Sports Centre’s Olympic-sized pool featured some 300 athletes representing around 100 clubs.

Swimming Canada, the national governing body of competitive swimming, is in its third edition of this specific meet, which is open to the public for viewing. It’s the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club’s second time hosting, said communications director Nathan White.

“This is a major national event for us with Swimming Canada … I think there are six countries represented here, and that could be anything from young teenagers up to swimmers who are still going in their 20s,” he said at the pool on Thursday.

“They’re all here gearing up for a big summer of swimming.”

St. Albert native and Paralympian Reid Maxwell was doing just that on Thursday. The Kinsmen Sports Centre is familiar to him, being one of his early training pools before he moved to Montreal.

“I really like this pool. Honestly, it’s probably my top three pools in Canada,” the 18-year-old said.

“I get to see family and friends, so I can’t complain … But I still want to perform. I’m not taking it easy.”

Read more: St. Albert teen awarded 2025 national Paralympic male swimmer honour

Maxwell, who was named Swimming Canada’s male swimmer of the year for the Paralympic program in 2026, will be using this weekend to practice “a little bit of everything” ahead of trials for the Pan and Para-Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Los Angeles this year.

Other familiar names this weekend include Nick Bennett, the flag bearer for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

“Swimming is a sport where there is so much anonymous work. Most of these swimmers are going nine times a week in their own training group, so the racing opportunities can be few and far between,” White said.

“(This meet) gives them a little measuring stick for how that training is paying off.”

He added that Edmonton has “rolled out the welcome mat,” with the Kinsmen Centre’s renovations making for a top swimming experience.

“Great swimming, great area surrounding the pool and great support from the local community here to have this meet.”

The Speedo Canadian Swimming Open runs until Sunday. Tickets are $7.25. A full list of competitions and times can be found online.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Klippenstein