Olympic medalist spurns Canada in hopes of swimming for Team USA: 'Always felt like an American'

The satellite volition beryllium watching the U.S. and Canada rivalry connected the crystal and successful different sporting events erstwhile the apical athletes deed Milan Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The vigor astir Summer Olympics athletes was conscionable heating up arsenic a two-time Canadian medalist decided to power from Team Canada to Team USA connected Monday.

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Josh Liendo (Canada), left, Kristof Milak (Hungary) and Ilya Kharun (Canada) successful the men’s 100-meter butterfly medal ceremonial during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games astatine Paris La Défense Arena connected Aug. 3, 2024. (Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports)

Ilya Kharun, an Olympic swimmer who was calved successful Montreal and won 2 bronze medals successful the 2024 Paris Games, announced helium was joining the U.S. He thanked Swimming Canada successful a station connected Instagram.

"John Atkinson and everyone representing Swim Canada, convey you. I would not beryllium the swimmer oregon idiosyncratic americium contiguous without your support," helium captioned the post. "To my Canadian teammates, convey you. You helped maine advancement into the idiosyncratic I americium today. You guys truly made maine consciousness similar I was portion of a family. It’s been an grant wearing the Maple Leaf emblem and everyone successful Canada volition ever person my support."

Kharun said helium "always felt similar an American" contempt the immense enactment from Canada.

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Canada's Ilya Kharun competes successful the 400 metre idiosyncratic medley during the FINA Swimming World Cup prelims connected Saturday, Nov 5, 2022, astatine Indiana University Natatorium. (Grace Hollars/USA TODAY Sports)

"I grew up successful Las Vegas. I’ve lived successful America my full life. I’ve ne'er represented a nine squad extracurricular of USA Swimming," helium added. "I’ve got a agelong vocation near arsenic a swimmer and I’d similar to beryllium based astatine home. And that location is successful the USA."

Kharun moved to Las Vegas erstwhile helium was young arsenic his parents, who were Ukrainian acrobats, continued their careers with Cirque du Soleil.

The 20-year-old butterfly swimmer took location 2 bronze medals successful Paris aft winning a golden successful the 2024 satellite championships successful Budapest. He besides won a bronze medal past twelvemonth successful Singapore.

Kharun volition person to hold a twelvemonth earlier helium tin officially vie nether the U.S. emblem arsenic helium needs to beryllium released from Swimming Canada. He should person capable clip to effort to suffice for the 2028 Summer Olympics successful Los Angeles.

Ilya Kharun of Team Canada is seen connected the podium aft winning bronze successful the Men's 100m Butterfly connected time 8 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 astatine Paris La Defense Arena connected Aug. 3, 2024 successful Nanterre, France. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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Atkinson, the precocious show manager and nationalist manager of Swimming Canada, told CBC helium was disappointed with Kharun’s decision. But helium wished him the champion connected his adjacent endeavor.

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