Blossoming superstars ready to take centre stage at Canadian swimming trials in Victoria

Just three short years ago when hundreds of Canadian swimmers arrived at the Saanich Commonwealth Place pool in Victoria for national trials there were signs that Summer McIntosh, Josh Liendo and a handful of others were on the cusp of something special.

Now, as Canadian swimming stars prepare for another trials in Victoria, it's clear that those sparks of brilliance in the pool in April 2022 have fully developed into global superstars who continue to take down records and chart a new course for swimming in this country.

Throughout those trials McIntosh started signalling to the world she was going to be a force for the foreseeable future, winning all four races she entered. She hasn't stopped since then and has become a generational talent – she is now a three-time Olympic champion, has countless short course and long course world titles and is the world record holder in the 400m individual medley.

Ilya Kharun wasn't even at those trials in Victoria three years ago – he won two bronze medals in Paris last summer — and Liendo is a podium threat at every national meet, having won silver in the 100m butterfly at the Games. The two have also been highly successful in the NCAA ranks, racking up wins and medals.

And they're all just getting started. McIntosh is only 18 years old, Kharun is 19 and Liendo is 21 years old. 

WATCH | CBC Sports' The Ready Room discusses storylines from national swim trials:

Will Summer McIntosh break a world record? And other storylines ahead of Canadian swim trials

The Canadian women, who have been the backbone of the Swimming Canada program for three Olympic cycles, continue to thrive. And the men's program is gaining traction as well, with the likes of Finlay Knox and Blake Tierney also