Challenges Faced by Penny Oleksiak: Obstacles and Turning Points

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Penny Oleksiak. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Penny Oleksiak is a highly accomplished Canadian competitive swimmer, nicknamed "Magic Penny." She achieved international recognition at the 2016 Summer Olympics, becoming the first Canadian to win four medals in a single Summer Games and Canada's youngest Olympic champion with her gold in the 100m freestyle. Notably, she was the first athlete born in the 2000s to win an individual Olympic gold. Oleksiak's achievements earned her the 2016 Lou Marsh Trophy and the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award. She continued her success at the 2020 Summer Olympics, winning three more medals and tying the national record for most Olympic medals won by a Canadian athlete at seven, a record she shares with Andre De Grasse.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

2015: FINA World Junior Swimming Championships

In 2015, just six weeks after fracturing her elbow in a cycling accident, Penny Oleksiak won six medals at the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships. These included gold in the mixed 4 × 100 m freestyle relay, silver in the 100 m freestyle, silver in the 50 and 100 m butterfly, silver in the 4 × 200 m relay, and bronze in the 4 × 100 m freestyle events.

2017: Arena Pro Swim Series and Team Canada Trials

In 2017, Penny Oleksiak's first competition was the Arena Pro Swim Series in Mesa, Arizona, where, hindered by injuries, she finished fourth in the 100 m freestyle. After struggling with a shoulder injury and a concussion, she won the 100m freestyle and butterfly races at the Team Canada trials, qualifying for the 2017 World Aquatics Championships.

2018: Commonwealth Games

In 2018, Penny Oleksiak participated in the Commonwealth Games. While she was unsuccessful in the individual races, she won three silver medals in the relays.

2018: Opting out of Pan Pacific Championships

In 2018, despite qualifying wins at the Canadian Swim Trials, Penny Oleksiak opted not to compete in the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in August, instead taking time to rest before resuming training in September, citing the pressures of fame after the Rio Olympics. She returned to training with Ben Titley at the national team training centre.

March 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Impact and Phelps Brand Ambassador

In March 2020, Penny Oleksiak had an enforced break from training due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave her the opportunity to rethink her training approach. She also became the first female global ambassador for Phelps Brand, a swim gear company co-founded by Michael Phelps, who became a valuable mentor.

2022: Commonwealth Games Absence and Knee Surgery

In 2022, Penny Oleksiak announced she would not compete at the Commonwealth Games due to the compressed international swimming calendar. Later in the summer, she suffered a meniscus tear while vacationing in Florida and underwent knee surgery in Toronto.

2022: Changes and Challenges in 2022 Season

In 2022, Penny Oleksiak faced changes with Ben Titley's departure and had to adapt to a new head coach, Ryan Mallette. Contracting COVID-19 in early March complicated her preparations for the season. Despite this, she finished second in both the 200 m and 100 m races at the Canadian swimming trials.

2022: 2022 World Aquatics Championships

In 2022, at the World Aquatics Championships, Penny Oleksiak won a silver medal in the 4×100 m freestyle relay, a first for Canadian women. She was later disqualified in the semi-final of the 200 m freestyle. She won bronze in the 4x200 freestyle relay. Oleksiak also won a silver medal in the 4x100m mixed freestyle relay, and won her ninth medal as part of the Canadian team in the 4x100m medley relay, tying Ryan Cochrane as the most-decorated Canadian swimmer at those championships.

2023: Knee Injury Sustained

In 2023, Penny Oleksiak sustained a new knee injury at the U.S. Open Swimming Championships in November, which would require surgery.

2023: Withdrawal from 2023 World Aquatics Championships

In 2023, despite being provisionally named to the Canadian delegation, Penny Oleksiak withdrew from the World Aquatics Championships, citing her ongoing knee recovery and a new shoulder ailment. She had made a return to competition in May on the Mare Nostrum tour in Barcelona.

July 2025: Provisional Suspension

In July 2025, Penny Oleksiak voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension after being notified of an apparent anti-doping rule violation by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for whereabouts failures.