ESWIM Time Trial #2 - 400 Freestyle & 400 IM

We ran our second ESWIM time trial of the season at the Olympium, featuring the 400 freestyle and 400 IM. For many of our younger swimmers, this was their first experience racing these events in a structured, performance-focused environment- and they rose to the occasion.

 

The mood on deck was positive, and exciting. There was an unmistakable sense of athletes learning how to race, not just swim- focusing on technique, skill, and problem-solving over the full distance.

 

The evening began with the presentation of the 2024-2025 ESWIM Swimmers of the Year, setting the tone for what the night represented: long-term development, patience, and belief in the process.

 

Female Swimmer of the Year 2024-2025 

Sylvia Statkevičius

 

Sylvia Statkevičius, our 2023-2024 Swimmer of the Year, continued her exceptional trajectory this past season and once again set the benchmark for excellence at ESWIM.

 

Over the course of the year, Sylvia qualified for both the European Junior Championships and the World Junior Championships, and was also selected for the World Senior Championships- a remarkable achievement at any stage of an athlete’s career. With maturity well beyond her years, Sylvia chose to focus on her final season as a junior, a decision that reflected clarity, patience, and a long-term vision for success.

 

At the European Junior Championships, Sylvia delivered outstanding performances on the international stage, contributing to three Lithuanian national records: a bronze medal in the 4×100 IM relay, a silver medal in the 4×200 freestyle relay, and a national-record performance in the 4×100 freestyle relay. She carried that form into the World Junior Championships, where she equalled her lifetime best in the 200 freestyle with a composed and powerful swim of 1:59.18.

 

This season also marked an important milestone as Sylvia graduated from ESWIM and began the next chapter of her career with the Florida Gators at the University of Florida- one of the most demanding and prestigious programs in the world.

 

Sylvia’s journey is a powerful reminder of what is possible when talent is matched with patience, professionalism, and purpose. She leaves ESWIM having set records, raised standards, and left a lasting legacy.

 

Sylvia was unable to be with us but the award was accepted on her behalf by her sister, Emilia. Congratulations, Sylvia.

 

Male Swimmer of the Year 2024-2025 

Fung Lin Wu (Ian)

 

Our Male Swimmer of the Year for the 2024-2025 season is Fung Lin Wu- Ian.

 

This past year marked a genuine breakthrough for Ian, particularly in the individual medley and breaststroke events. Throughout the season, he demonstrated consistency, resilience, and an increasingly confident racing mindset. He showed up day after day with intent, trusted the process, and stepped forward when the pressure was highest.

 

That commitment was rewarded with selection to the Canada Games team representing Swim Ontario- a significant achievement and recognition of his progress. At the Games, Ian delivered one of the performances of the meet, winning the silver medal in the 200 breaststroke with a new personal best.

 

Ian has continued that momentum into this season. At the recent Ontario Junior International Championships, he produced standout swims of 2:12 in the 200 breaststroke and 2:03 in the 200 IM, clear indicators that his development is still accelerating.

 

Now in his final year, Ian is not just chasing fast times- he is defining the standard for what focus, consistency, and belief can produce. His best swimming is still ahead of him.

 

Congratulations to our Male Swimmer of the Year, Fung Lin Wu.

 

Both swimmers journeys show what’s possible when athletes commit to ESWIM, grow through the program, and see the process through to graduation.

 

Time Trial- Racing with Skill, Control, and Intent

 

What stood out most throughout the time trial was the quality of skill execution across all age groups. The focus on technique, efficiency, and race craft that now underpins our program was clearly visible in the water.

 

Swimmers demonstrated:

 

    •    Fast turns with improved approach speed and explosive push-offs

    •    More deliberate underwater phases, with athletes holding the distance and accelerating through the kicks

    •    Quicker, more explosive breakouts, translating underwater speed into effective surface swimming

    •    Improved technique and rhythm through the middle of races, particularly in the IM

 

We saw swimmers learning how to manage pace, stay technically solid under fatigue, and maintain skill when it mattered most which is exactly the habits we are trying to build.

 

Process First, Outcomes Follow

 

One of the most encouraging aspects of the night was the mindset on display. Many swimmers were racing these events for the first time, yet the focus remained on how they swam rather than just the time on the clock.

 

This approach pays off.

 

We recorded an exceptional number of personal bests across the time trial- a clear reflection of athletes committing to the process, trusting their preparation, and executing the skills they are developing every day in training.

 

Just as importantly, when asked, swimmers were able to identify:

 

    •    What they did well

    •    Where skills held under pressure

    •    What they could do better next time

 

This is the foundation of continuous improvement (Kaizen).

 

A Program Taking Shape

 

These time trials are not isolated events- they are an extension of the program we are building at ESWIM.

 

From our youngest athletes to our senior performers, there is a shared language around:

 

    •    Skills before speed

    •    Technique under fatigue

    •    Long-term progression over short-term results

 

The alignment across squads was evident. Coaches were consistent in their messaging, supportive in their delivery, and unified in their expectations. The work being done daily on deck is translating directly into race performance, and that connection is becoming increasingly clear to our athletes.

 

A sincere thank you to the coaches, officials, organizers, and volunteers who made the evening run so smoothly. These opportunities do not happen without dedicated people behind the scenes, and your efforts create meaningful learning moments for our swimmers.

 

Tonight’s time trial was another strong step forward- not just in results, but in how our athletes race, think, and carry themselves. The skills are improving, the belief is growing, and the culture we are building continues to take shape.

 

Well done, ESWIM.