Two members of the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Flying Fins swim team have taken a major step onto the national stage, qualifying for the prestigious 2025 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials held June 7 to 12.
Leo Zheng, 18, a dedicated para swimmer with the Flying Fins, earned a spot at this year’s Canadian Swimming Trials after years of focused development. He attended the national event alongside his coach, Emma Hancock, the team’s head development and para coach.
“Qualifying for and competing at trials this season has been a great accomplishment,” Hancock said. “For Leo, being the only athlete representing the Fins at trials was a tremendous honour and a personal milestone. We felt support from those cheering on at home and Leo hopes to bring a sense of pride to the team.”
Held in Victoria, B.C., the six-day trials served as a national selection event for the World Championships, World Junior Championships, and Para World Championships.
Zheng swam in four para multi-class events: the 400-metre freestyle, 100-metre freestyle, 50-metre freestyle, and 100-metre backstroke. He placed fifth in both the 400-metre and 100-metre freestyle, ninth in the 50-metre freestyle, and sixth in the 100-metre backstroke — all with personal best times.
“Leo’s training shone through, having bettered his times in all of his races,” Hancock noted. “Leo had the opportunity to compete against multiple Paralympians, as well as watch Summer McIntosh break three world records.”
Zheng began swimming competitively at the age of eight and ramped up his commitment to the sport at 15, after qualifying for the Western Canadian Championships. Since then, he has represented Team Saskatchewan at the Canada Games, swam at the 2024 World Para Swimming Series in Indianapolis, and joined Team Canada’s NextGen initiatives. He and at .
This year, he gained further international experience by racing in Mexico, Spain, and Italy — exposure that his coach believes has helped fuel his determination.
“We believe this exposure to other high level para swimmers and competition has played a huge part in Leo’s determination and motivation to improve,” said Hancock. “In conjunction with international exposure, we put a large focus on Leo’s overall health and providing a stable training environment where he could thrive.”
Back at home, Zheng trains about 13 hours per week in the pool, with additional sessions involving nutrition experts, mental performance coaches, and strength trainers rounding off his training program. “The final seven weeks leading up to trials were difficult, involving many gruelling practices and meticulously placed rest to ensure peak performance,” Hancock explained.
The Flying Fins have also been making efforts to develop more para swimmers through a recent pilot program called Para Learn-to-Swim.
“The program is designed to develop young swimmers with physical, visual, or intellectual disabilities and provide them with fun, engaging, and safe programming,” Hancock said, noting that the club hopes to continue the program this fall. “We are proud to welcome swimmers of all ranges of abilities into our program.”
Zheng’s journey shows what’s possible with perseverance, and through the Flying Fins’ new Para Learn-to-Swim pilot program, he is leading by example — showing younger athletes what it means to chase a goal and represent your community with pride.
To learn more about the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Flying Fins, visit .
