Swim star Oleksiak headlines Canada’s team for world short-course championships
TORONTO — Penny Oleksiak dove off the starting blocks at the Rio Olympics and into Canada’s collective heart. Over a few fabulous days, the 16-year-old became one of the country’s biggest sports stars.
And so the months since, said her coach Ben Titley, have been about growing into her newfound fame.
“For someone like Penny, these last three months have much more been about her general life, not her specific swimming, being OK with who she now is in the people’s eyes, getting back into school and doing well in school,” Titley said.
The 16-year-old from Toronto won four medals at the Rio Olympics, including gold in the 100-metre freestyle.