2025 Canada Games Profile

Leading up to the Canada Games, Swim Ontario is highlighting some of the members of our fantastic team!

As an athlete, many would say that it’s all about momentum.

Yet, carrying through with the impulse of combining strength and power is another thing.

Swimmers know that carefully preparing for the grind of training requires consistency, determination and, sometimes, an unbearable amount of energy and stamina.

For Jordyn Richardson it’s also about being fit and focussed.

In almost four years of competition, Richardson – a freestyle speed swimmer – has emerged as one of Canada’s bright and talented athletes in the sport.

Now, just 13 years old, Richardson wasted no time sending a signal of her abilities – and what just might be expected to occur in years to come. In Toronto, at a provincial swim festival, Richardson – in her first major meet - had people talking. That was after earning a gold medal in a 50-metre freestyle race.

That medal, one of many that’s come her way, is prominently displayed in a family showcase. It also stirs up memories of accomplishments, strength, stamina and the progress that continues her path to pride in the pool.

Let’s zoom back to a few other younger swimmers.

At age 14, Summer McIntosh was the youngest member of the Canadian team selected for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. A year later, she became a global star winning races and setting a world junior record. Now, she’s a three-time Olympic champion, four-time World Aquatics champ, and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

One more thought. Kyoko Iwasaki of Japan won an Olympic gold medal in Barcelona, making her, at the age of 14 years, the youngest swimmer ever to claim an Olympic title.

Richardson is worthy of expectations and performances. She also knows that at anything can happen at a given time.

While Richardson prepares for her first year of secondary school in the Fall, and hoping to stir excitement at that next level, she’s also fixated on her first appearance at the showcase of amateur athleticism in the country – the Canada Games.

Richardson is one of the elite 34 swimmers chosen to represent Ontario at the national gathering of young, skilled and gifted individuals. The Games are set for August 8 to 25 in St. John’s, Nfld.

Of note, is that Ontario’s contingent is made up of just 24 Olympic (that’s where Richardson fits in), six Paralympic and four Special Olympics athletes. The Canada Games is the largest amateur sports event in the country and considered to be a showcase of able-bodied athletes and athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities.

While Richardson will cheer on her teammates, they all will be challenging for medals, personal best times and provincial bragging rights at the Aquarena Fitness Centre, located on the campus of Memorial University. In addition to the quest to triumph over others, the event is also about developing friendships.

Richardson, who is a member of the Ottawa Y Olympians swim club, has had stories shared about her swim development – and from those early swim lessons at the Minto Recreational Centre. At age three, and like many her age at the time, she resisted putting her head in the water – and even failed a test.

Now, she’s on a path that could very well end up competing for Canada on the international circuit.

“In swimming, progress is measurable – it’s you versus the clock,” said Richardson, who already is the owner of numerous age class swim club records. “I love practising, working hard and being part of progress.”

Practising six days a week at various pools in the Greater Ottawa Area (and that’s because her club doesn’t have a home pool) is her modus operandi. There’s also time for yoga – which is part of the clubs formal training.

Richardson enjoys yoga. Two years ago, she gave up gymnastics. The priority became swimming – and a good choice.

A few months ago, make that June of 2025, something very special occurred for Richardson after she had competed in a swim meet at the Jean Drapeau Aquatic Complex in Montreal. Richardson was approached by her club coach, Norma Perez, who had more to share than congratulations on the meet performance.

Having just won six races, Perez shared news of an e-mail that confirmed Richardson was off to the east coast as a member of Team Ontario focussed on dominating, yet again, the Canada Games.

“I was thrilled – the happiest I have been as a swimmer,” said Richardson before shuffling off to share the news in a phone call with her grandparents. “This was an exciting time for me, and I just had to share it.”

Richardson, just like others her age, toils to emulate great international swimmers. At the Canadian Trials in Victoria, B.C. earlier this year, Richardson was involved in a rare tiebreaker involving three swimmers. Only one would qualify for the junior final reserve spot in the 50-metres freestyle.

It was Richardson who prevailed coming out on top and tied the Ontario 13-year-old age group record timed in 26.38 seconds. Toronto’s Amanda Reason had owned it after setting the mark in 2007. By the way, Reason – in 2009 - went on to become a world record holder in the 50-metres breaststroke in a long course pool.

“As far as I am concerned, the only way to improve is to work harder, stay focussed and dedicated to what you want to achieve,” said Richardson.

Case in point, just days into the 2025 year, Richardson had run to catch a bus, slipped, fell and ended up breaking her left wrist. After about two months of rehabilitation, and her share of frustration, Richardson was finally given the green light by medical staff to resume training.

“It took a long time to heal, but I knew I had to return to the pool and my parents have been very supportive - most of my success has been because of them,” she said while not hesitating to recognize the efforts of her coach and support from teammates.”

David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 50+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.