Canada's powerhouse swim team faces big expectations at World Aquatics Championships

When Canadian divers, swimmers and water polo players headed to Fukuoka, Japan, 22 years ago to compete at the 2001 world aquatics championships, there was an understanding and acceptance that podium performances were probably going to be few and far between.

And that's exactly what happened.

Athletes from Canada only ended up winning a total of five medals throughout the two weeks of competition — there were two diving medals, two synchronized swimming medals and the women's water polo team won bronze.

Canadian swimmers failed to reach the podium.

But times have changed over the last two decades and now there are great expectations going into this summer's worlds, led by a powerhouse team of 30 Canadian swimmers.

It's also the first opportunity for athletes to qualify quota places for Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympics next summer. Athletes who place in the top-12 in the individual events and top-three in the synchro events at worlds will lock up spots for their country at the Games.

Mia Vallée, who trains in Miami but is originally from Beaconsfield, Que., was the standout Canadian diver in Budapest at the world championships last summer, surprising many by winning silver in the 3m event and bronze in the 1 m event. It marked the first time a woman finished on the podium in two individual events at the same world championships.

"I haven't been feeling my best this year with all the pressure from my performance last year at worlds. I was this underdog and won these medals. It's not easy, I'd never been under that much pressure," Vallée told CBC Sports.

"Expectations. It's mostly my own expectations. That pressure was eating at me."

WATCH | Path to Paris, featuring Canadian diver Mia Vallée:

Vallée is trying to find