Star Olympic swimmer ditches Canada for Team USA
Canada is losing one of its best Olympic swimmers after a shocking move on Monday morning.
Ilya Kharun was among Team Canada’s standout athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, capturing two bronze medals in the 100-metre and 200-metre butterfly events. He became the first Canadian man to capture multiple medals in a single Olympic Games.
The 20-year-old was seen as one of Canada’s most promising young athletes, and he had been competing under the Maple Leaf banner since 2022. That will come to an end, as Kharun announced that he will be swimming with Team USA moving forward.
“Iām changing my international representation from Canada to USA,” Kharun announced on Instagram. ”Ā Iād like to thank everyone in Canada. Itās been incredible to travel the world representing Canada and while competing with the top Canadian athletes.
“Itās been an honor wearing the Maple Leaf flag, and everyone in Canada will always have my support.”
View this post on Instagram
Though he was born in Montreal, Kharun spent the majority of his life in the United States, being raised in Las Vegas. When he first started competing on the international stage, Kharun intended to register with the United States, but was deemed ineligible due to only having a Canadian passport.
On top of being raised in America, Kharun also competes with the Arizona State Sun Devils.
“Despite the incredible support Iāve received from Canada, Iāve always felt like an American,” Kharun explained. “I grew up in Las Vegas. Iāve lived in America my whole life. Iāve never represented a club team outside of USA Swimming.
“Iāve got a long career left as a swimmer, and Iād like to be based at home. And that home is in the USA.”
This is a big loss for Swimming Canada, which will be losing one of its most decorated male swimmers. On top of the Olympic medals, Kharun also captured five medals, including one gold, at the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest.
The organization made a statement regarding Kharun’s departure.
āIlya has been on a journey with us since we welcomed him as part of the national team in 2022,ā said National Coach John Atkinson. āHeās a great person and a fantastic athlete. The historic things he has done for Canada in the pool can never be taken away.
“What he has done as part of our national team is part of our history. We wish him all the best, and he remains a friend to our national team.ā
Kharun will don red, white, and blue at the upcoming LA 2028 Summer Olympic Games and could represent the USA as early as the 2027 World Aquatic Swimming Championships.