Originally published by Swimming Canada. Read the original article here.


Commonwealth Sport Canada teamed up with Swimming Canada to name five additional Para swimmers (three women, two men), who bring a mix of international experience along with youthful energy and drive, to the start block for Team Canada. 

Tianna Asala (Calgary, AB), Danielle Dorris (Moncton, NB) and Emma Van Dyk(Port Colborne, ON) booked their tickets for the women’s Para swimming competitions, while Hunter Helberg (Fort McMurray, AB) and Sebastian Massabie(Surrey, B.C.) will bring additional fire power while repping the maple leaf in the men’s field. 

“Each new athlete named to Team Canada strengthens an already impressive Para swimming program, bringing a powerful mix of experience, resilience, and competitive drive,” said Kelly Laframboise, Director, Team Canada 2026. “Alongside a dedicated group of staff who help create the conditions for success, these swimmers embody what it means to represent Canada – supporting one another, pushing boundaries, and competing with pride on the world stage. We’re excited to see what they will achieve in Glasgow as part of a team that is truly Mighty, Together.” 

The five additions bring the Paralympic Program contingent to 12 (seven men, five women) contributing to a total Canadian swimming team size of 24 for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The team boasts a wealth of medal-winning international experience at multi-sport Games and World Championships. 

“This is an inspired group of athletes and staff who reflect the depth of the Canadian Para swimming program and will be exciting to see them race on the international stage,” said Jocelyn Jay, Associate Director, High Performance, Paralympic Program. “This is a group of athletes rich with multi-sport Games experience who are driven to support each other in a healthy environment while pushing each other to achieve their individual and team goals at the Commonwealth Games.” 

Tianna Asala is a former national level swimmer in the Olympic Program who enjoyed success on the university circuit with the University of Calgary Dinos. She switched to Para athletics after experiencing a stroke where she competed for Canada at the Parapan American Games in Santiago 2023 but is back in the pool for her first multi-sport Games in Para swimming. 

“I’m super excited to be representing Canada! I’ve been in the process of recovering from my stroke for many years now, so it feels like an acknowledgement of my resilience to make the team,” said Asala. “I hope that resilience is something that many Canadians can resonate with. At our core, we’re a tough group of people to get through every northern winter that we do with smiles on our faces. There’s nothing I would rather represent than that on the world stage.” 

Two athletes deep with Paralympic experience, Danielle Dorris and Emma Van Dyk, will also swim at the Commonwealth Games for the first time with Asala. 

Danielle Dorris also understands resilience. A three-time Paralympian, Dorris made history at the Rio 2016 Paralympics as the youngest Canadian swimmer ever to compete in the Games at just 13 years old. An advocate for children with disabilities, Dorris’ breakthrough came at the Tokyo 2020 Games where she won gold in the women’s 50m butterfly S7, setting a world record time of 32.99 seconds, and silver in the 100m backstroke S7. Dorris has continued to shine at the international level ever since and will be looking to add to her medal-winning resume in Scotland.  

Dorris’ 2024 Paralympic teammate, Emma Van Dyk is also hungry to add to her growing resume at multi-sport Games. Van Dyk has also competed at two Parapan Am Games where she swam to a bronze medal at Santiago 2023. 

Paralympic champion, Sebastian Massabie, adds some additional experience to the men’s team. Massabie, who broke six Canadian records and one world record at the 2024 Paralympic Swimming Trials before taking top spot on the podium in the 50-m freestyle S4 in Paris 2024, now competes in the S5 classification where he will look to achieve his performance goals at the Commonwealth Games. 

Hunter Helberg rounds out the contingent of Canadian Para swimmers. Helberg will look to bring his Parapan American Games experience from Santiago 2023 where he was consistent across all race disciplines to his first appearance at the Commonwealth Games. 

Commonwealth Sport Canada also welcomed the addition of Erin Alizadeh, who will take on Team Manager responsibilities for Canada’s Para swimming program, while Ryan Allen and Jy Lawrence will join the coaching staff. 

The Canadian Paralympic Program swimmers will join the rest of the swim team in Glasgow where they will race at the Games, July 24-29. The Commonwealth Games are the only multi-sport event that features equal standing for sport and Para-sport events. 

Glasgow 2026 will include 10 sports, including six Para sports. Up to 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories from across the Commonwealth will compete at the  2026 Commonwealth Games over 11 days of competition across the city of Glasgow.   

The following is a complete list of Canada’s swimmers for both the Paralympic and Olympic Programs named to compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.  

SWIMMERS POOL

NAME – NOM CLUB – CLUB  PERSONAL COACH – ENTRAINEUR PERSONNEL 
Dawson, Oliver Grand Prairie Piranhas, Coach: Alex Dawson 
Elliot, Alec Wilfrid Laurier University, Coach: Cathy Pardy 
Gill, Jagdev McGill University, Coach: Peter Carpenter 
Helberg, Hunter  Ft McMurray Mantas Swim Club, Coach: Daniel Pinto 
Liendo, Josh North York Aquatic Club / U Florida, Coach: Jack Szaranek / Anthony Nesty 
Loewen, Benjamin University of Toronto, Coach: Byron MacDonald / Linda Kiefer 
Lu, Fernando Olympians Swimming, Coach: Ryan Skomorowski
Massabie, Sebastian  Pacific Seawolves Swim Club, Coach: Jy Lawrence
Maxwell, Reid Edmonton Keyano Swim Club / HPC Quebec, Coach: Haley Osborne
Sauve, Antoine Camo Natation / U Michigan, Coach: Gunnar Schmidt
*Turbide, Nicolas Guy Club de Natation Région de Québec, Coach: Pierre Lamy
Winterborn, Ben University of Toronto / HPC Ontario, Coach: Ryan Mallette
Wigginton, Lorne Etobicoke Swim Club / U Michigan, Coach: Gunnar Schmidt 

Angus, Sophie HPC Ontario, Coach: Ryan Mallette
Asala, Tianna Okotoks Mavericks Swimming, Coach: Kim Cousins
Brousseau, Julie Nepean Kanata Swim Club / U Florida, Coach:  Anthony Nesty
Cosgriffe, Katie Wilfrid Laurier University, Coach: Cathy Pardy
Dorris, Danielle Club de Natation Bleu et Or, Coach: Mathieu Manuel
Jansen, Ella Etobicoke Swim Club / U Tennessee, Coach: Rob Collins
Jibb, Mary Pacific Seawolves Swim Club, Coach: Jy Lawrence
Kryger, Madison Brock Niagara Aquatics / HPC Ontario, Coach: Ryan Mallette
Lloyd, Delia Etobicoke Swim Club / Ohio State, Coach: Ignacio Gayo
Masse, Kylie Toronto Swim Club
*Van Dyk, Emma Brock Niagara Aquatics, Coach: Dave Ling 

*Denotes Paralympic Program Athlete

TEAM STAFF – PERSONNEL 

HIGH PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR –  John Atkinson 
TEAM MANAGER –  Bette El-Hawary
TEAM MANAGER – Erin Alizadeh 
HEAD COACH / TEAM LEADER  – Mark Perry
TEAM COACH  – Linda Kiefer
TEAM COACH  – Jy Lawrence 
TEAM COACH  – Ryan Allen 
MASSAGE THERAPIST – Jessica Sears
MASSAGE THERAPIST – Monty Churchman
RACE ANALYSIS – Graham Olson