In the Swimming Lane to the World Championships

Jessica Tinney ‘18 remembers when swimming first came into her life. “I was eight years old and physiotherapy was always a part of my life, growing up with a disability,” recalls Jessica. “I always refused physiotherapy. I hated it a lot. My mum was like, ‘Swim instead and it really has similar benefits to physiotherapy.’ So I did and I quickly fell in love with the sport.”  

Through swimming, Jessica also met and made many friends, which allowed her to socialize while also staying physically active. Soon after starting swimming, Jessica went on to compete, and she hasn’t looked back since.“I’ve always been a competitive person,” laughs Jessica. 

Fast forward to fourteen years later, when she competed in the Canadian Swimming Trials earlier this month. She was selected as one of the 31 swimmers to represent Canada at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships due to her stellar performance at the Trials. “Really it hasn’t set in yet because everything is quite a bit of a blur,” says Jessica. “Everything was kind of ‘go, go, go’.” For Jessica, the Swimming Trials was only the third swim meet she has attended since March 2020, when the pandemic first shut down most large competitions. “Most para swimmers all know each other, so it was really great to see friends who aren’t always in Ontario,” says Jessica of the experience at the Trials. 

There’s no spare moment for Jessica. Right after competing at the Canadian Swimming Trials and receiving the news that she made the national team, she had to travel from British Columbia to Queen’s University to write her final exams. Despite the jam-packed schedule, “I think I found a very good balance between school and athletics,” says Jessica. “I found a great team in Kingston and I was able to excel through them.” 

As for her future career plans, Jessica is contemplating becoming a physiotherapist or pursuing research in a master’s degree. But for now, her focus is on the upcoming world championships and then rushing home to make it in time for her university convocation ceremony! 

We wish Jessica good luck as she competes in her first world championships in Portugal this June!