First Time Olympians Series

Welcome to our new profile series highlighting Ontario's first time Olympic and Paralympic qualifiers who will be in Paris this summer.

There was a time when Alexander (Alex) Axon was just considered a hopeful in the sport of swimming.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

Surprise. Change the word hopeful to a world-wide contender.

That’s because he’s now off to the show – the big one known as the Summer Olympic Games in Paris set for July and August.

To be more precise, Axon is a member of the Class of 2024. Nothing to do with academics, but lots to do with performance of another kind. He’s in a new group. Those are known as first time Olympians.

Chosen to the Canadian contingent that will shuffle off to France, Axon earned a spot in the 200-metres freestyle. He was timed in a personal best of one minute, 47.5 seconds.

Impressive, indeed – and especially when you learn that Axon had spent many months as an open water swimmer. That’s an activity, requiring a special kind of confidence and technique, that takes place over distances in lakes and rivers rather than in swimming pools.

In baseball, it could be compared to a starting pitcher going several innings to then being converted to a closer.

While the crowd was ecstatic watching Axon at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in mid-May, people were there to witness the Olympic Trials. Most could not begin to understand what this race had meant to Axon.

There are no words to describe his euphoric and enthusiastic reaction when, after the race had ended, he glanced up at the large clock to witness his time.

After winning the 200-metres freestyle, Axon was his typical gracious and charming self and needed time to let it all sink in. Then, he took more time to review and dissect his performance as well as figure out what was next.

At the time, Axon wasn’t aware that his world had changed. That dream of competing with the best was no longer fiction.

The childhood memories would return - and especially recalling the days when he watched, along with his family, the Olympics on television. Like most youngsters, he wondered what it would be like to be among the best on the planet.

The fantasy, that was tucked away in his mind for years, was no more. Reality had set in for the native of Newmarket, a community located just north of Toronto. Axon was now amongst an elite group of individuals.

Axon shared the experience of swimming four lengths of the pool, a boisterous crowd, and giving it all he had with the hope of qualifying for the Olympics.

Stroke by stroke, timing, movement, turns. Everything. The endorphins that release every time Axon exercises and trains in the water or gym, were nowhere near as electrifying as the authenticity and validity of that race.

He had accomplished something very special. For Axon, it was a plateau to stardom.

‘Today for tomorrow’ is a phrase that he has always liked. Getting him to explain what it meant produced a quick response. “It’s about preparing for the future, making the sacrifices, staying up late, remaining focused, being dedicated and working hard – very hard,” he said. “For me, the goals have always been to perform well.

“I am grateful now to be in this position of representing my country. I think about it and get overwhelmed. Hoping for the best is the way I see it, but I also need to be reasonable with what I expect.”

Although he did not post a fast enough time to qualify for the individual event at the Olympics, Axon will get to swim as part of Canada’s 4 x 200-metres freestyle relay team.

As a member of the Markham Aquatic Club, when talking with the 20-year-old, you get to experience his contagious charm and personality. Now, he’s a high performer with major goals and is aware of lots of work still needing to get done.

It is something that goes beyond his success as a scholarship athlete at Ohio State University in Columbus. Those vibes clearly show a boom of triumph that extends beyond the water. Axon is two years into a degree program and is planning a career in finances and investment banking.

Filled with memories of emotional times, Axon recalls those early years when his mother encouraged him to swim. Then, at the age of eight, it was that the thrill of that first ribbon he won swimming for the Newmarket Stingrays.

International competition isn’t new to Axon.

In 2022, he competed in the five kilometres race at the World open water championships in Hungary. A year later, at his first Pan Am Games held in Chile, Axon was on the 4 x 200-metres freestyle team that won a bronze medal. Axon started 2024 off with a bronze medal performance in the 500 yards freestyle at the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Big Ten championships.

Now, he’s off to the Olympics in Paris.

Axon was quick to point out that a highlight in his swim life was back in 2018. At the Junior World open water finals hosted by Israel, he placed fifth - the highest ever by a Canadian.

At the 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials, Axon won the 400-metres event, but his time wasn’t quick enough to make the cut to go to Paris. He also competed in the 800 metres but that came after his sparkling performance in the 200 metres.

“Amazing, that (200-metres) race put me on the Canadian team,” he said. “Thinking of it, it’s one huge blur. I wish everyone in the world could feel the way I felt after that race. But now, the need is to prepare and focus on Paris.”

Axon had an interesting way to sum up his days as a swimmer.

“There were times when training some 22 hours in the pool and weight room, when the mental strain got to me – almost broke me,” he said. “Swimming can be gruelling and a harsh sport, but I just kept pushing myself. I kept my head down, my confidence up and persevered going after something I really wanted.”

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.