Chantal Van Landeghem

Biography

Chantal Van Landeghem had an impressive 2015, highlighted by three medals at the Pan Am Games, including gold in the 100m freestyle and as the anchor of the 4x100m freestyle relay, both in Pan Am record time. At the FINA World Championships that followed, Van Landeghem broke her own national record to finish fifth in the 50m freestyle. She also just missed the 100m freestyle final by 0.01. That was the same heartbreaking margin by which she had missed qualifying for the London 2012 team in the 50m freestyle. She briefly considered quitting the sport but a couple of days later was back in the pool. The perseverance paid off as she earned a spot on the 2013 World Championship team, finishing ninth in the 50m freestyle, missing the final by 0.05. In 2014, Van Landeghem competed at the Pan Pacific Championships where she won bronze in the 50m freestyle and 4x100m medley relay. Van Landeghem earned Manitoba Athlete of the Year honours in 2011 after competing at both the FINA World Championships and Junior World Championships, winning five medals at the latter including silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze in the 50m freestyle. Van Landeghem also competes for the University of Georgia and helped the school win back-to-back NCAA Championships as a freshman and sophomore in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Wayne and Dinah Van Landeghem… Younger sister Tia swims at the University of Pittsburgh… Getting into the Sport: Started swimming at age 4, taught by her father… At her first swim meet she was too scared to dive off the blocks so she dove from the side of the pool instead…. Outside Interests: Working towards Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science at the University of Georgia (planned graduation in 2017)… Odds and Ends: Always travels with ear plugs… Eats pasta as a pre-race real…