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.

Over time, her knowledge, talent, and patience have brought her to this occasion.

Yes, the world stage.

What has always been first, and foremost, to Daryle Martin is her admiration for the sport of swimming. A competitive age group swimmer in her younger years, Martin has earned more than those medals which are handed out to award her various levels of success and achievement.

For 22 years, she has been there, at pool side, volunteering her experience and expertise as an official – and a darn good one who has earned accolades and gained respect from all sectors of the sport.

To some, officiating is not a rewarding job – and especially when one views an infraction and makes the difficult call that leads to a disqualification. To others, it’s an expectation to be there - so swimmers can do their thing and race for awards, personal achievements and to, ultimately, stand on a podium in jubilation.

Officials, depending on the sport, are subject to harassment, criticism and so much more. Fans, parents, coaches, athletes, and the list goes on, often get carried away with excitement and the suspense that goes on in every race.

Martin, meet after meet, location after location, is one of an army of individuals who are there to do the job – their job – of making sure rules are followed. In short, without officials there is no event.

And so, Martin, a Level 5 Master official, who is always mentoring other officials and ensuring fairness, is getting a special invite – a function others can often only dream comes their way.

Martin has been chosen to represent Canada, as a Technical Official, at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Big news, you bet it is.

Appreciative and more like ecstatic at the invitation to the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, a first for her, this could very well be the icing on the cake that rewards a career of eminence, gratitude, and recognition.

“It’s a huge honour,” said Martin, who was born in Thunder Bay and now lives on Shebandowan Lake, which is not far from the shores of Lake Superior in the picturesque beauty of northwestern Ontario. “Just to be nominated is deeply appreciative, but then to be chosen by a selection of your peers for the Olympics - that is so special in itself.”

On the prestigious World Aquatics list of elite officials, Martin said she had hoped this would be the time when she might be considered for the important role.

“I received a call from Swimming Canada asking if I had still been interested in a nomination (to officiate),” said Martin, who submitted her resume and credentials to the national sports body. “Of course. I mailed a form, and it was by registered mail, to World Aquatics in Switzerland, accepting the nomination. Waiting for a reply, I finally got the e-mail confirming that I had been selected.”

The good news came in October of 2023 and Martin had to keep things quiet until the formal announcement that came earlier this year.

In Canada, only three referees and two starters are on the World Aquatics list of officials. For Martin, she has been on for eight years.

“This was my last opportunity to go to the Olympics before I’m off that list,” said Martin.

Some of the top swim officials in Canada are from Ontario.

Martin is believed to be the first female official from the country’s most populated province, to be picked to preside over the elite international sports event in the world. Dave Shewfelt, who began his affiliation with the aquatic sport as a competitive swimmer with the Hamilton Aquatic Club in 1964, was chosen in 2016 to officiate at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

As a bonafide referee, Martin could be called upon in a variety of ways.

“It could be as a turn judge or as a chief inspector or video judge. I will do what they ask me to do because I am trained to do all those roles,” she said. “They also have a video room at the Olympics - so I might be doing some judging with the cameras, which would be a new experience for me.”

The thrill will last eight days – from July 27 to August 4 - and consist of preliminaries and finals.

“I’m getting very excited and also recognizing the privilege, just like athletes, that I am selected to represent Canada,’ she added. “As an official, this is the pinnacle. It’s the Olympics.”

Martin has volunteered at other major swim events around the world – from the United Arab Emirates to Indiana to Ontario. On that list, the World Juniors, the Canada World Cup, the World Short Course finals, Canada Summer Games, World and Olympic Trials, and numerous National level meets.

While Martin could very well be culminating a superb career of officiating at the international level, she’s not hanging up the whistle so fast. The 58-year-old said she’ll be at a variety of swim meets, especially in Ontario, when experienced officials are needed.

“Look at the number of people needed to run a swim meet and then to make it all work,” said Martin. “It just doesn’t happen. Volunteers are people committed to helping athletes of all ages reach their goals and get the support they need.”

And so, other than sharing the news with her family, how did Martin – a modest, consummate, and gifted – celebrate her selection?

“As officials, we try our best to be in the background and do what we can to support athletes,” she said. “We know the protocol and procedures. There are still some nerves, just like the athletes, but we just stay low key and stick to our responsibilities.”

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.