The Swim BC Pacific Peaks Pathway Program, a collaborative initiative by Swim BC, Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, and viaSport, is dedicated to elevating the performance of Swim BC’s swimmers along the podium pathway. This program focuses on placing athletes onto National Teams and providing comprehensive support, ensuring that every swimmer and coach has the necessary resources to excel and achieve podium finishes for Canada. Through our collective efforts, we are committed to fostering sport excellence and enhancing podium performances across the Swim BC community, aligning with the strategic vision of the podium pathway.
Podium Pathway
The podium pathway is about developing high performance athletes capable of winning at the highest levels of international competition, and bringing home medals from Olympic Games, Paralympic Games or World Championships.
Swim BC supports the podium pathway through enhanced programming to support the development towards high-performance, where high-performance is defined as: “Top 8 World ranking with continual progression towards, and the achievement of, Olympic podium performances.” (Definition Statement)
Resources supporting the long term athlete development strategy are listed below:
- Sport for Life – Long Term Development in Sport and Physical Activity
- Swimming Canada – Athlete Development Overview
- Swimming Canada – Long Term Athlete Development Strategy
- Swimming Canada – Appropriate Athlete Development and Athlete Development Matrix
- Swimming Canada – National Development Team Program
Programs
The Swim BC Pacific Peaks Pathway programs has been designed to support the development of swimmers across both Olympic Program Swimming and Para Program Swimming. Our tiered levels of programming cater to athletes and coaches at various levels, ensuring a tailored approach to development and performance.
Each program is structured to provide comprehensive support and resources, ensuring that every swimmer and coach can achieve their fullest potential. Swim BC continually updates its nomination and programming processes to align with the evolving standards of competitive swimming.
Olympic Program Swimming
- Elite
- Perform
- Advance
- Prospects
- Next Wave
Paralympic Program Swimming
- Para Elite
- Para Perform
- Para Advance
- Para Prospects
- Para Next Wave
Swimmer Identification
The initial step in selecting swimmers for the Swim BC Pacific Peaks Pathway programs is an identification process. Swimmers are chosen based on specific criteria, including residency in British Columbia or the Yukon, age, gender, and meeting performance standards or rankings. This approach ensures a fair and inclusive selection, laying the groundwork for further steps in the nomination and registration process.
Those who have met the criteria will be notified and supported through the athlete intake process.
For more information please click below:
Performance Standards
Swim BC’s performance standards are pivotal in identifying and nominating athletes for their different program levels. These standards vary across disciplines and program tiers, ensuring a tailored approach to athlete development.
The standards play a crucial role in the systematic progression of athletes through the Swim BC performance pathway, aligning with our commitment to excellence and performance at all levels.
Olympic Program Swimming
Olympic Program swimmers are required to achieve the standards in a minimum of three events, whereas an event is defined as a distance and stroke combination whether it is short course or long course. For example, if a swimmer achieves the 50m Free SCM and LCM it counts as one event, not two.
Paralympic Program Swimming
Paralympic Program swimmers are required to achieve the standard for their classification in a minimum of one event, whereas an event is defined as a distance and stroke combination whether it is short course or long course. For example, if a swimmer achieves the 100m Free SCM and LCM it counts as one event, not two.
Nominated Athletes & Coaches
2026-2027
Olympic Program (coming soon)
Paralympic Program (coming soon)
Coaches (coming soon)
The Swim BC office is located on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking people known today as the Songhees, the SXIMELEL (Esquimalt) and the WSÁNEĆ First Nations.
Swim BC gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
Thank you to our valued sponsors for your continued support of Swim BC:
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