Olympic medalist spurns Canada in hopes of swimming for Team USA: 'Always felt like an American'

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The world will be watching the U.S. and Canada rivalry on the ice and in other sporting events when the top athletes hit Milan Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The heat around Summer Olympics athletes was just heating up as a two-time Canadian medalist decided to switch from Team Canada to Team USA on Monday.

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Josh Liendo (Canada), left, Kristof Milak (Hungary) and Ilya Kharun (Canada) in the men’s 100-meter butterfly medal ceremony during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Paris La Défense Arena on Aug. 3, 2024. (Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports)

Ilya Kharun, an Olympic swimmer who was born in Montreal and won two bronze medals in the 2024 Paris Games, announced he was joining the U.S. He thanked Swimming Canada in a post on Instagram.

"John Atkinson and everyone representing Swim Canada, thank you. I would not be the swimmer or person am today without your support," he captioned the post. "To my Canadian teammates, thank you. You helped me progress into the person I am today. You guys really made me feel like I was part of a family. It’s been an honor wearing the Maple Leaf flag and everyone in Canada will always have my support."

Kharun said he "always felt like an American" despite the immense support from Canada.

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Canada's Ilya Kharun competes in the 400 meter individual medley during the FINA Swimming World Cup prelims on Saturday, Nov 5, 2022, at Indiana University Natatorium. (Grace Hollars/USA TODAY Sports)

"I grew up in Las Vegas. I’ve lived in America my whole