Mia Wittal (Image Credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea)

By Marty Hastings

In the pool

Wittal of Kamloops establishes provincial swimming record, sets sights on McIntosh’s national mark

Jan 30, 2026 | 4:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — Mia Wittal is chasing Canadian swimming legend Summer McIntosh – and she’s within fingertips of catching her. 

Wittal, a 12-year-old Kamloops Classic Swimming athlete, set a provincial long course record in the 11- and 12-year-old girls’ division last weekend in Kelowna, posting a time of 28.67 seconds in the 50-metre butterly. 

“I knew right away,” Wittal said of the moment she glanced up at her time. “I knew that I had crushed Leanne Chen’s time and I knew that I could swim even faster next time. I was just jumping up and down in the water and after I had hopped out, I couldn’t stop smiling.” 

The B.C. record was held previously by Chen, the Surrey Knights’ swimmer who clocked in at 28.94 seconds last July. 

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“She has so much potential,” Classics’ head coach Shane Downey said of Wittal. “I feel like we’re just starting to scratch the surface.” 

Wittal trains about 11 times per week — nine practices in the pool and two dry-land sessions — and boasts natural gifts to augment work ethic.

“She’s got a fantastic swimmer’s build,” Downey said. “She’s taller for her age (about 5-foot-7) and, hopefully, there’s a little bit more to come (her father is 6-foot-7). That really helps with her overall wingspan, getting that good, long and strong catch. And she has this inner competitiveness that really drives her forward.” 

McIntosh (28.64 seconds) holds the Canadian 50m fly record in the long course 11- and 12-year-old girls’ division, with a .03-second lead on second-place Wittal. 

The Kamloops swimmer has until May 12 — the date on which she graduates from the age division — to catch McIntosh. 

“I think it would show me that I can make it to the Olympics,” Wittal said of setting the national record. “That’s my dream, so beating Summer McIntosh’s time could be a dream come true.”