18-year-old Montrealer has sights set on Paris at his first Olympic trials

CBC
·3 min read
Antoine Sauvé says he's working hard to make the Olympic team, but knowing he'll have another shot in four years helps calm his nerves. (Jay Turnbull/CBC - image credit)
Antoine Sauvé says he's working hard to make the Olympic team, but knowing he'll have another shot in four years helps calm his nerves. (Jay Turnbull/CBC - image credit)

Of the more than 170 Quebec swimmers competing for a spot on Canada's Olympic team, 36 are representing a Montreal swim club.

One of those swimmers, Mary-Sophie Harvey, claimed her place in Paris on Monday.

According to two coaches with the Club Aquatique Montreal (CAMO), had Harvey missed out, it would have been a disappointment. But if anyone else qualifies, it would be a pleasant surprise.

One name to watch is Antoine Sauvé.

The Montrealer is only 18 years old but is already making waves, having helped Canada's relay team win a pair of bronze medals at the World Junior Championships in Israel last year. He was also on Team Canada at the World Championships in Qatar in February.

This will be his first Olympic trials.

"I think I'm ready for it. I went through a world championship in February and it was really stressful but I think it was good preparation for the Olympic trials and I'm there for it. I'm ready," he said a few weeks ago before a training session at the Centre Claude-Robillard in Montreal's Ahuntsic–Cartierville borough.

Montrealer Antoine Sauvé is only 18 years old but is already making waves, having helped Canada's relay team win a pair of bronze medals at the World Junior Championships last year.
Montrealer Antoine Sauvé is only 18 years old but is already making waves, having helped Canada's relay team win a pair of bronze medals at the World Junior Championships last year.

Montrealer Antoine Sauvé is only 18 years old but is already making waves, having helped Canada's relay team win a pair of bronze medals at the World Junior Championships last year. (Camonatation/Instagram)

Sauve will be in the pool for the 50-, 100- and 200-metre freestyles. His first trial is the 200-metre freestyle today. He'd love to qualify for an individual event but says, realistically, his goal is to swim well enough to make a relay team.

If there's pressure to make the Olympics, Sauve isn't feeling it. At 18, he says he's got nothing to lose.

"I know if I screw up, I have another chance in four years and maybe even another in eight years so, like, just for fun and it's not too bad if I don't make it but I'll be really happy to make it for sure."

Sauvé's cool demeanor impresses his coach.

"He's a very, very good kid. Amazing swimmer, technically," said CAMO Natation coach Greg Arkhurst.

"[Sauvé] could be a big surprise at these trials. He's swimming without pressure. He loves it. He likes to race. He has no fear."

The Olympic and Paralympic trials had been planned to take place in Montreal and Sauvé was excited to swim in his hometown in front of friends and family. But the event was moved to Toronto because of damage caused by a fire at the Olympic Park in March.

"I mean, that's the sad part. Like all my friends and family were going to come watch me over here," said Sauvé. But he says he actually prefers swimming at the Pan Am Sports Centre because he considers it a fast pool.

And his parents will still be in the stands, cheering him on to a spot on the Olympic team.

Whether he qualifies for Paris or not, Sauvé's future is bright. He just committed to the University of Michigan and will swim for the Wolverines in the fall.