San Antonio College in Walnut, California, marking the first time the international competition has been held since 2018. According to Swimming Canada, a 20-athlete Canadian team featuring veteran Paralympic medalists and emerging names will compete against international swimmers under the California sun.
Canadian Team Roster and Veteran Leadership
The 20-athlete contingent was selected following the 2026 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials held in July. The team is led by four veterans: two-time Paralympic champion Danielle Dorris of the Bleu et Or swim club, double Paralympic medalist Nicolas-Guy Turbide of Club de natation Région de Québec, three-time Paralympian Abi Tripp of Club de natation Région de Québec, and 2026 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Jagdev (Jack) Gill of McGill University, according to Swimming Canada announcements.
“At many levels, this is a dress rehearsal for the outdoor competition at the Los Angeles Paralympic Games,” Tripp said regarding her third appearance at the Pan Pacs. Additional returning team members with multiple appearances include Aurélie Rivard, Alec Elliot, and Tess Routliffe, alongside national team newcomers Ken Stroud and Tianna Asala.
Competition Format and Road to Los Angeles 2028
With the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games two years away, international racing opportunities serve as vital benchmarks for athlete development. Jocelyn Jay, Swimming Canada’s associate director of high performance, noted that the Walnut meet introduces a distinctive format for the historic event.
For the first time in the competition’s history, athletes will contest multi-class preliminaries and finals. This format differs from World Para Swimming Championships and Paralympic Games, where events typically run under individual classifications, providing athletes with unique tactical experience.
Historical Context of the Para Pan Pacific Championships
The Para Pan Pacific Championships debuted in Edmonton in 2011 before moving to Pasadena, California, in 2014, where Canada finished third in the overall medal standings. The most recent edition prior to Walnut took place in Cairns, Australia, in 2018, where the Canadian squad placed fourth overall.
Nicolas-Guy Turbide returns to the roster after competing in the 2018 event and winning a bronze medal in the men’s S13 50-meter freestyle at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Turbide stated that the Walnut meet offers an ideal venue to evaluate training progress in outdoor conditions.
Broadcast and Streaming Information
San Antonio College. Preliminaries begin at 9:00 a.m. PT, followed by finals at 5:30 p.m. PT. According to Swimming Canada, live broadcasts will air on CBC Gem, with supplementary digital coverage hosted across the social media channels of CBC Sports and Swimming Canada.