Penny Oleksiak: Canada's young Olympic hero



Imagine winning an Olympic medal at just 16 years old? Well, that’s exactly what young Penny Oleksiak did in Rio de Janeiro this summer. However, she didn’t win just one medal; she won four medals. Oleksiak is now the proud owner of one gold medal, one silver medal and two bronze medals and she will go down in history as one of Canada’s most successful athletes.

In fact, CTV News reported that Oleksiak is not only the youngest gold medallist in Canadian history but she is also the first Canuck to win four medals at a single Summer Games. And with that in mind, it might be wise to keep an eye on her progress over the next couple of years – Canada could have a real superstar in their ranks. Who knows, Oleksiak could mature into a global phenomenon if she continues to improve and develop in the coming years.

Oleksiak was part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team that went on to finish third and claim the bronze medal; Canada’s first success of the summer. Following on, the 16-year-old won silver in the 100m butterfly before snatching another bronze medal as part of the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team – all fantastic achievements when you consider her age and lack of experience at the Olympic Games.

However, her biggest achievement came in the 100m freestyle as she shocked the world to claim the gold medal and her fourth at Rio. Oleksiak finished joint-first with Team USA star Simone Manuel, who became the first African-American to win an individual swimming gold medal. Both achievements were equally impressive on that day but Oleksiak’s accumulative efforts beggar belief...

The Canada star’s accomplishments might have a positive effect on the rest of the athletes this summer. Damian Warner is set to get his Decathlon campaign underway later this week and punters can place a wager on the 26-year-old to emerge victorious at 8/1 in their Olympics betting markets. Whilst Ashton Eaton looks well placed to defend his gold medal, Warner could improve on his fifth-place finish at London 2012 and Oleksiak’s energy and vibrant attitude could work wonders on the two-time world champion.

Given time, Oleksiak could blossom into one of the finest Canadian athletes of all-time. She has defied the odds to announce herself on the biggest stage of all but cannot afford to get complacent in the future. If the 16-year-old receives the right coaching and keeps her eyes on the prize, she may be a dominant figure in the pool for many years to come. Who knows, she could be the next Michael Phelps if she trains hard and maintains a hungry and positive attitude ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.


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