Penny Oleksiak's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Penny Oleksiak.

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

2006: Cindy Klassen at the Winter Olympics

In 2006, Cindy Klassen held the record for the most medals won by a Canadian in a single edition of the Olympics until Penny Oleksiak broke the record in 2016.

2014: Canadian Age Group Championships

In 2014, at the age of 14, Penny Oleksiak won 10 individual medals at the Canadian Age Group Championships, including five gold, three silver, and two bronze, setting a personal best in every race. She also secured three relay gold medals.

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.

December 2016: Short Course World Championships in Windsor

In December 2016, Penny Oleksiak competed in the short course world championships in Windsor, Canada. She won a bronze medal in the 100-metre freestyle, breaking her 3rd World Junior record. She also helped the Canadian team win gold in the 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay and the 4 × 50-metre freestyle relay, along with a silver medal in the 4 × 100-metre medley relay.

2016: Rio Olympics Debut

In 2016, Penny Oleksiak began her competition at the Rio Olympics. She broke the national record and world junior record in the 100 m butterfly heats with a time of 56.73, advancing to the semi-finals. Oleksiak also anchored the Canadian women's 4x100 m freestyle relay team, winning Canada's first Olympic medal in the event in 40 years. The team finished in third place, surprising many.

2016: First appearance at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships since 2016

In 2016, Penny Oleksiak competed at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships. The 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Championships was her first appearance at the event since 2016.

2016: Qualifying for the Summer Olympics

In 2016, Penny Oleksiak qualified for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, setting the Junior world record in the 100 m freestyle qualifier. She also surpassed Chantal Van Landeghem's Canadian record. Additionally, Oleksiak set Canadian and World Junior records in the 100 m butterfly en route to the Olympics. Before the Olympics, Canadian Tire analysts predicted she might win a medal in Rio.

2016: Oleksiak's Olympic Fame

In 2016, Penny Oleksiak rose to fame at the Summer Olympics by becoming the first Canadian to win four medals in the same Summer Games and the country's youngest Olympic champion in the 100 m freestyle. She was also the first athlete born in the 2000s to win an individual Olympic gold medal. As a result, she was awarded the 2016 Lou Marsh Trophy, the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award, and was named to the Canadian Press team of the year.

2016: Awards for Olympic and Championship Performances

In 2016, as a result of her performances at the Summer Olympics and the short course championships, Penny Oleksiak was awarded the Lou Marsh Award as Canada's top athlete of the year and was named CBC's athlete of the year. She also received the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canada's female athlete of the year and was named in the team of the year.

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.

2019: International Swimming League

In the autumn of 2019, Penny Oleksiak was a member of the inaugural International Swimming League, swimming for the Energy Standard Swim Club, who won the team title in Las Vegas, Nevada, in December.

2020: Three Additional Olympic Medals

In 2020, Penny Oleksiak won three additional medals at the Summer Olympics, breaking the national record for Olympic medals at the time.

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.

2024: Anchored 4 x 100-metre freestyle team to a bronze medal.

In 2024, Penny Oleksiak competed at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships and anchored the 4 x 100-metre freestyle team to a bronze medal.

2024: Participated in 2024 Summer Olympics

In 2024, Penny Oleksiak participated in the heats and final of the 4x100m freestyle relay at the Summer Olympics, where the Canadian team finished fourth. She also swam the freestyle leg in the heats of the 4x100m medley relay, helping Canada qualify for the final in second position.