Rowynn Biffart practices at the Big Marble Go Centre on Tuesday as she heads to Olympic trials starting May 13. (Kevin Kyle/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat swimmer heads to Olympic trials

May 9, 2024 | 8:58 AM

A 15-year-old swimmer from Medicine Hat will be competing in Olympic Swimming trials in Toronto next week with a chance to represent her country at stake.

Rowynn Biffart has been swimming competitively for about eight years, and is currently a member at the Alberta Marlins Aquatic Club.

“I’m very grateful for this experience,” Biffart said.

“Lots of support coming from my team and my friends and family. An excited experience that I get to be a part of.”

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Biffart will compete in five different events, the 50 metre freestyle, 100 metre fly, 100 and 200 metre breaststroke, as well as the 200 metre individual medley, a combination of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.

Her coach, Joran Harper said she is the first swimmer from Medicine Hat to go to Olympic trials in multiple events in quite some time.

Harper will be in Toronto to coach Biffart.

“I feel like in terms of balance as a swimmer, she’s very well balanced in all four strokes,” Harper said.

“I think she’s very excited for obviously the 200 breaststroke. I still think she would deem as her favourite event,” she added.

“I’m pretty excited for the 200 I.M. myself and then also a time that she just made there at Westerns and the 100 fly. I’m excited to see what she can do with that event.”

Biffart will have from her mom Rochelle Biffart and the fest of her family at trials.

“I’m one of those moms that my heart is racing, my heart is going and pumping pretty fast and I’m usually pacing and cheering and her brother is probably the loudest one out of all of us,” Rochelle said.

Rochelle is proud of Biffart and the opportunity for her swim at the Olympic trials is a great payoff for all her daughters time and effort.

“It’s been an amazing ride to watch because she is so enthusiastic and loves being at the pool,” Rochelle said.

“It’s really cool, especially in the last year and a half. She’s really grown and really matured and has really aspired to keep doing more.”

Biffart is excited to be able to swim with the best in Canada.

“Well, it’s very exciting. I’m very grateful to even be on the same pool deck as them,” Biffart said.

“They’re like role models, so it’s good to look up to them.”

Biffart will train for a couple days in Toronto, before competition starts.

With her sights on finishing in the top two with swimming times that meet the olympics standards.