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.

Several times, Sophie Angus has contemplated making the move to the world of retirement.

Only 25-years-old, the rationalization was whether, or whether not, to call it a career as it relates to competitive swimming.

Decision time.

It can be a difficult choice for an athlete, regardless of the sport.

When years of training have led to remarkable performances, huge personal highlights and fulfilling moments that were once considered dreams and fantasy, it can be traumatic for a full stop.

From a sport perspective, Angus had a challenging time when the pandemic hit, and she was restricted from travelling to Canada.

She was born in Connecticut and is a dual citizen – but chose to swim internationally for Canada. Her father, originally from Calgary, was also an athlete in his prime - a very good soccer player.

There was a time when she thought about pursuing soccer but elected to focus on swimming. That choice turned out to be a wise one. Educated at Northwestern University in Chicago, Angus earned a bachelors’ degree in neurosciences followed by a master’s in data science.

Combining excellence in the classroom with athletics at Northwestern, she was on the swim team and was chosen an All-American in 2020-21. Angus still owns the school record in the 100-metres breaststroke.

These days, she works remotely for a private equity company that is based in New York – but also has interest in sports analytics.

Angus made her debut in the pool attending her first Canadian age group championship in 2015. It was just two years after she started swimming fulltime and went on to compete at the Canadian Olympic Trials in 2016. International competition was on the horizon and in 2018, at the short course World Swimming championships in China, she didn’t medal in three events.

“My family is Canadian, and my heart has always been with Canada,” she said. “I have always wanted to swim for, and represent, the country where my family and heritage are - and I am very proud to be doing so.”

A year later at the World University Games in Italy, she won a bronze as a member of the women’s 4x100-metres medley relay and placed fifth in the 50m breaststroke. In 2022, Angus - as a member of the women’s and mixed 4x100-metres medley relay teams - won silver medals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

That same year, Angus tinkered with the idea of retiring from swimming.

“My (swim) times at the Commonwealth Games weren’t good and I wasn’t happy with how I did at the World Aquatic championships in Budapest,” she said. “The plan, before attending the competitions, was to enjoy the experience and retire after.

“However, after attending and even though I was disappointed with my results, I loved the experience and felt like I still had more I could achieve in the sport and so I decided to continue on.”

But something happened in 2023. Huge success.

Angus was on Canada’s roster at the Pan Am Games in Chile where she won two medals in Santiago. Let’s start with a silver medal in the 100-metres breaststroke. In the heats of the 4x100-metres medley relay, she was on the team that went on to win gold.

Maybe the poise and tenacity came as part of Canada’s bronze medal relay squad at the 2023 World Aquatics championships in Japan. Or, it could have been a boost of motivation to excel that showed earlier this year in Qatar, again at World Aquatics finals, with another bronze.

Letting go can be an arduous move.

“That was a huge step forward in confidence,” said Angus. “I know that I am getting older, but there was just this feeling I had more time.”

Turns out, in Doha (Qatar) she swam a personal best time in the 100-metres breaststroke of one minute, 06.66 seconds. It was a time that qualified her for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

She had more on her mind.

“I knew, going in to the (Canadian Olympic) Trials, that I either had to win my race or come second – it had to be one of those,” said Angus in the event held at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in May.

She won the 100-metres breaststroke in a gold medal time of 1:06.96, slightly slower than Doha – but enough to assure her that she was ready for the largest sports event in the world and one that will attract more than 200 countries.

There is a saying about saving your best for the last.

“The thrill is still here,” said Angus. “I can’t wait for Paris - and I know that I can do better than my time at the Trials.”

Call it a rollercoaster ride of sorts, Angus has had to cope with lots of pressure.

“The pressure – it’s been lifted, I’m very excited to be chosen to swim for Canada,” said Angus, now a first time Olympic qualifier. “For me, I want to soak up the experience, use the crowd and my team to my advantage.”

Angus will be competing in two events – the 100-metres breaststroke and the 4 x 100-metres medley relay.

“It’s about keep living the dream, but the dream is gone – it’s time for the Olympics,” said Angus, who devotes an enormous 30 hours a week between the weight room, dryland training and in the water while training with the High Performance Centre Ontario.

“I had thoughts of retiring several times, but I just kept coming back to the love of swimming, the friendship I have gained with others and the pursuit of excellence. Realistically, though, this could be my last shot.”

Since being selected to Canada’s roster for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, Angus has heard from a list of people – including those when she was in grade school.

“It’s about the journey, but I also have big goals and I will give it everything I have swimming for Canada,” she said.

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.