Earned, Not Given: The Road to Trials

Earned, Not Given: The Road to Trials

By Ashley Peterson 

With just one week to go before the 2025 Canadian Trials, we’re celebrating the determination, passion, and resilience of our athletes in our Swimmer Spotlight series. Each feature takes you behind the lanes to explore the unique journey of a swimmer—from their first splash in the pool to the challenges they've faced and the goals that fuel their drive.

As the team prepares to fly out this Friday, we caught up with Claire for an inside look at her path to Trials and the moments that have shaped her along the way.

June Spotlight : Claire Thorne

What inspired you to start swimming?

“I originally started in the same sport my mother used to do - synchronized swimming - before my aunt encouraged me to try racing. I fell in love with working hard in practice and seeing it pay off in competition. I kept trying to improve bit by bit until it brought me to where I am today. I loved synchronized swimming, but after the first couple years, I could tell racing was where I belonged.”

What has been the biggest challenge in your training, and how did you overcome it?

“My biggest challenge in training is trying to remain positive even on days where I’m not able to move fast or my strokes feel wrong. Over the years, I’ve learned that sometimes there are days where your body just can’t handle moving fast. I’ve learned that on these days I need to focus on things I can control, like my technique and my turns. I’ll pick something to work on so that even if I’m not directly improving speed that day, I’ll still be improving in another way.”

What is your favourite race and why?

“My favourite race has to be the 400 free. I find that freestyle technique comes the most naturally to me and is one of my better strokes. The 400 in particular is the perfect distance, it’s not a sprint so I don’t need to kick a lot but it’s also not a 10+ minute race. Most swimmers can agree that races get quite arduous after 400 meters.”

How do you mentally prepare for a big competition?

“Despite what you may think, mental preparation before a big meet is as important as physical preparation. If you go into a meet not feeling confident in your abilities and training then you already have lost a large part of the likelihood of your success. So, before meets, I like to think back on some successful practices I’ve had before the meet that prove that whatever goal you have at the meet is something that you are truly capable of.”

What are your goals for Swimming Trials?

“Currently the only event I have qualified for is the 50m breaststroke which is not a common event for me but is very fun nonetheless! Because I only have one event, my main goals are to try and make some other trials standards that I can use for next year. I can do this in the post session time trials. I’d also like to make junior finals in the 50!”

What advice would you give to younger swimmers aspiring to compete at this level?

“My main advice to younger swimmers is to not take yourself too seriously. Of course it’s still important to show up, do the work, and focus when you need to. However, it’s also important to enjoy the process to avoid losing your passion for the sport. Instances where you don’t drop time or generally struggle, this joy in the process is what will keep you motivated to keep going.”

As the final week of taper winds down, our team is enjoying the calm before the storm—resting, fine-tuning the details, and staying focused. On Friday, five of our swimmers will head to Victoria to represent us at the 2025 Canadian Trials. The hard work has been done. For Claire, and the rest of the team, it’s now about trusting the process, embracing the moment, and stepping onto the starting blocks with confidence. The road to Trials is nearly complete—and now, it's time to rise, race, and make it count.