Barrie’s Jordi Vilchez is continuing to be on top in his sport — as well as top of the podium.
The 19-year-old recently finished his first year at Ohio State University, where he is studying finance and competing as part of the Buckeyes swim team.
Vilchez recently brought home three silver medals from the Canadian Championship Trial in Victoria, B.C. — one each in the 400-metre freestyle, 200-metre butterfly and 200-metre freestyle. As a result, the teen will be heading to Singapore in July to compete as part of the Canadian national team at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships.
“Every competitive swimmer that qualifies gets to go here and you’re all trying to get on to the world championship team,” he told BarrieToday.
Vilchez qualified to compete in both the 200-metre freestyle and the 4-by-200-metre freestyle relay at the event, which is scheduled to take place July 26 to Aug. 3 in Singapore.
“This is every childhood swimmer’s dream. This is the highest level of competition in swimming besides the Olympics. The Olympics happen every four years, and every year that there is not an Olympics this is the highest level you can make it in swimming,” he said. “It really means a lot, because it’s what every swimmer works towards.”
A member of the Barrie Trojan Swim Club since childhood, Vilchez officially graduated from the program last summer, telling BarrieToday the club helped make him the athlete he is today.
“A lot of people switch around to different clubs, but I stuck through it. I saw a lot of coaches come and go. I think I learned loyalty through that, and I stayed local to my program. Luckily, that worked out and turned me into the swimmer I wanted to be,“ he said.
“I learned a lot about team work and being a leader, because a lot of times, I was the fastest guy in the group," Vilchez added.
Life as a university-level student-athlete has definitely taken some getting used to, he said.
“It’s a huge change. I went from taking a gap year to a university course load right away. It was a shock and it was really hard. Luckily, I worked hard and I feel I did a good job. I managed to hit my academic goals,” Vilchez said.
As one of the newest members of the Buckeyes, Vilchez has also had to get used to being a small fish in a bigger pond.
“You go from being the top dog in your home club to the bottom of the barrel on a university team. It was really hard, but I acclimated quickly, (and) I’d say it helped me," he said. "I improved a lot this year, and I think part of the reason is because I always had someone to chase after.”
After the championship event in Singapore is over, Vilchez will return to training and competing at school. He already has his sights set on making Team Canada for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“That’s the ultimate goal. It’s looking pretty good. Ultimately, that’s the end of the tunnel, is those Olympic Games,” he said, adding he has every intention of putting in the work to make it to the top of the podium in 2028.
“I am going to be competitive at those Olympics. I am not just going there to participate. I am going there to win medals and put on a show for the country," he said.