Emma Finlin swims in a freestyle raceSwimming Canada/Scott Grant
Swimming Canada/Scott Grant

Emma Finlin

Biography

Emma Finlin qualified for Paris 2024 with her 24th-place finish in the women’s 10km open water swimming event at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships. When the race ended, it appeared she had missed qualifying by one place – by just seven-tenths of a second – but when another Olympic spot became open, it was reallocated to Canada and Finlin.

Finlin made her international debut for Canada at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships where she finished 28th in the open water 5km event. A highlight for her from that event was competing alongside Olympic champion Ana Marcela Cunha.

At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, Finlin competed in long distance pool events as well as open water events. She had won the 1500m freestyle at the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials and then won the 5km and 10km events at the Canadian Open Water Swimming Trials. She followed up by finishing sixth in the 10km open water event at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Finlin competed at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships where she was a finalist in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events, finishing sixth in both. That came after she won four gold medals at the 2022 Canadian Championships: 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 1500m, freestyle, and 400m IM.

Finlin has committed to swim collegiately for Ohio State University beginning the fall of 2024.

A Little More About Emma

Getting into the Sport: Started swimming at age 8, following her older sister, Haley, into the sport… Began competing at age 11… Inspired by British open water swimmer Cassie Patten, who spoke to her about the realities of swimming, but never gave up and realized her dream of competing at the Olympics… Outside Interests: Enjoys trying new cafes with her sister… Likes to mountain bike and spend time with her family on their boat… After graduating high school took a gap year to focus on training for Paris 2024… Odds and Ends: Nickname: Joey… Admits to being very superstitious with good luck socks, water bottle, and pre-swim lunch of a Subway sub…  Collects keychains from her travels… Always travels with her pillow and stuffed elephant ‘Jellycat’…

Notable International Results

Pan American Games: 2023 - 6th (open water 10km)

World Aquatics Championships: 2024 - 23rd (open water 5km), 24th (open water 10km), 10th (open water mixed 4x1500m); 2023 - 18th (800m freestyle), 12th (1500m freestyle), 30th (open water 10km), 12th (open water mixed 4x1500m); 2022 – 28th (open water 5km), 11th (open water mixed 4x1500m)