‘Point proven’: Wittal perseveres through swimming ordeal to become fastest in Canadian history

Wittal posted a time of 28.32 seconds in the long course 50-metre butterfly on April 25 at the KCS Pratt’s Spring Fling in Kamloops.

The time is the fastest in Canadian history in two girls’ long course 50m fly divisions (12-year-old and 11- and 12-year-old), but it was not immediately placed atop the all-time Swim Canada rankings list. Three-time Olympic champion Summer McIntosh’s mark of 28.64 seconds was in the No. 1 spot.

Not long after the race, Classics’ head coach Shane Downey was made aware of a Swim Canada rule that states national records cannot be established in mixed-gender heats, such as the one Wittal was racing in when she posted 28.32 seconds in Kamloops.

At that time, the Wittals were under the impression Mia’s time was not atop the all-time-rankings list because boys were in her heat.

“It’s not nice seeing your kid upset,” Wayne Wittal, Mia’s father, told CFJC last month. “You just want to get some clarity for her on the whole situation and, hopefully, we can get that.”

While Downey sought clarification from governing bodies, Wittal pondered whether to enter the 50m fly at the Kelowna Aquajets Swim Club Persist Oil and Gas Invitational last weekend in the Little Apple.

That meet marked her last chance to breach McIntosh’s mark before aging out of the division on May 12 – and to do so in an all-girls heat.

Prior to the Kelowna meet, Swim Canada updated its all-time-rankings list, with Wittal’s name at the top.

But she is not the national record holder.

Downey learned that Swim Canada no longer recognizes national records (which are kept separately from rankings) in the long course 50m fly 11- and 12-year-old and 12-year-old divisions.

“My understanding after reaching out to Swim BC is that was changed in 2024 based off a survey that Swim Canada did,” Downey said.

Wittal decided to race last weekend in Kelowna.

“I think I just wanted to prove to everybody that I could get it again,” Wittal said. “I knew there was a lot on the line, but I knew I could do it. It’s almost like people think I couldn’t do it because I was racing against males.”

Wittal posted 28.32 seconds on Saturday [May 9] in Kelowna – the exact same time she recorded in Kamloops.

“Point proven,” she said. “Point proven.”

Downey said that with upcoming changes to Olympic swimming events, it is possible Swim Canada may reinstate the national records categories that have been removed.

“And should they revisit it, now that Mia has achieved that time in a split-gender event, it should be compliant with the World Aquatics rules and regulations,” Downey said. “I’m extremely proud of what she’s been able to accomplish.”

Downey was asked what the Classics learned from the ordeal.

“I think it’s really important to make sure you’re up to date and communicating with volunteers and coaches, and talking to other swim clubs, as well,” Downey said. “After Pratt’s, we heard from different clubs within our region who had made changes, as well, because they experienced something similar in the past. Once you have a certain calibre of swimmer, you just have to make the appropriate changes and plan accordingly for the future.”

by Marty Hastings

‘Point proven’: Wittal perseveres through swimming ordeal to become fastest in Canadian history

Our Community