Road to Trials

Welcome to the Road to Trials series, where we are featuring four swimmers in their lead up to 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Trials

Shona Branton knows there is a great deal at stake.

But that hasn’t stopped this phenomenal swimmer from believing in herself, her ability to achieve, and to thrive on one valiant performance after another in the pool.

A 21-year-old student at Western University in London, Ont., and a two-time recipient of the school’s prestigious Athlete of the Year award, Branton has been heard repeating the phrase - “I’m not done yet”.

So, what does that mean? Well, for those following her candor and veracity in the world of aquatics, Canada has been developing another dominant athlete ready to tackle the international competition on a regular basis.

Despite her brilliant racing achievements, and especially this year, Branton is focussed right now on one specific mission. It’s to take over ownership of the Canadian record in the 100-metres breaststroke. Currently, that tribute sits with Annamay Pierse, who earned the title back in 2009. Her time, at the Canadian World championship Trials in Montreal, was one minute, 05.74 seconds.

Branton’s personal best is 1:06.59. It came in a gold medal performance, achieved early in 2024, at the Luxemburg Euro meet. There is something else that is profound, let’s make it remarkable. Just a year ago, Branton had a time that was six seconds slower.

“I don’t feel pressure or nervousness,” she said recently in a conversation while thinking about the Canadian Olympic Trials and securing a spot at the mecca global event scheduled for Paris in July and August. “You have to build on confidence, believe in yourself and keep working on your goals.”

Okay, well spoken.

The message is quite clear and someone with a strong belief in her ability, full assurance and who has watched progress over the years, is Paul Midgley.

His coaching magnificence amounts to a stunning 45 years and has been the mentor for dozens of other swimmers. When it relates to Branton, he’s elated with her domination on the Canadian university circuit.

There have been record performances for Branton in the Ontario University Athletics championships followed by more gold medals at the Canadian USports finals. But it goes beyond that with more personal best achievements. Recently, the medals at the Speedo Canadian Swim Open in Toronto.

Hard to believe, that there were moments when Branton had struggled as a teenage swimmer.

“My grade 12 year was not great for swimming and, like others, (the pandemic) hit me hard – especially when training was disrupted and pools were not accessible,” she said. “There was also a period when I did not like swimming for a very long time.”

Branton’s endorphins kicked in big time when she experienced university swimming to be very different from the club level. Midgley, no doubt, had a lot to do with it. Things changed quickly – and the numbers prove it.y

Canada has been a hotbed for female swimmers whether it be Penny Oleksiak, our most decorated Olympian, or the country’s 2024 Swimmer of the Year in Summer McIntosh. The list of supremacy also includes Kylie Masse, Maggie Mac Neil, Sydney Pickrem, and the list goes on. Missing, though, is someone who dominates in the breaststroke.

That’s where Branton enters the picture.

She is being featured in Swim Ontario’s “Road to Trials” – a series of stories highlighting provincial swimmers with aspirations of making the Games of the Olympiad, also known as the Summer Olympics.

Gutsy performances and one who creates excitement every time she enters the water, Branton is adapting, utilizing her speed, and solidifying advice from her coach.

“I see what she does every day, a strong athlete who is focussed, and keeps her poise,” said Midgley, pumped at Branton’s rapid progression and, likely, her biggest cheerleader. “I believe in (Branton). No doubt, she’ll be Canada’s No. 1 (female) swimmer in the breaststroke and, yes, she’ll be in Paris.”

Midgley is referring to the Summer Olympic Games. That’s when swimmers take their first plunge against the best on the planet. It all starts on July 27 at the La Défense Arena in France.

Recalling the time when he first saw Branton swim, Midgley said he witnessed an extremely competitive individual – but also one who needed lots of coaching advice if she was to pursue international fame.

“She was really raw in skill, technical errors were evident, and I didn’t see potential greatness back then,” he said. “But now, she’s surpassed the developmental hurdles. She can do things in the water like I have never seen before - and I’ve been coaching a long time. Her ability to perform at a level of excellence is better than anyone I have ever coached.”

Talk with Branton and she claims to still have several steps to clear in her program of progress – one established in conjunction with Midgley. According to her coach, the trajectory for Branton, reveals that she can get on the international stage - and wear the gold ring.

A native of Port Lambton, a riverside community of about 1,000 people located in southwestern Ontario, Branton’s mother had her in the water a few months after she was born. Branton had to deal with pneumonia – an infection in her lungs that she had on three different occasions. She said doctors told her to keep swimming – because it kept her lungs healthy.

Competing for the Sarnia Rapids swim club, her skills swere evident in grade 8 and people took notice when she competed and won the athlete of the year award at Wallaceburg District Secondary. At Western, Branton is already regarded as one of the all-time great athletes in university history.

Now, some irony. Branton was never on the recruiting list of university coaches. Oh yes, she does welcome the medals, but she’s also a collector of what she calls “the adorable stuffed animals” that are presented to podium winners at major meets. She has quite the collection – and medals, too.

Branton does get a break from university courses and the pool. When she does, you just might find her roller blading or going to the gym. As for academics, she’s pursuing a post-secondary degree studying social justice, peace studies and thanatology – which is defined as “a scientific discipline that examines death from many perspectives, including physical, ethical, spiritual, medical, sociological, and psychological”.

*Photos credit of Western University

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.