Olympic Medalist Ilya Kharun Declares Transfer From Canada To Characterize U.S. Internationally

Two-time Olympic medalist and present quick course world champion Ilya Kharun introduced Monday he’s altering his sporting citizenship to symbolize the United States on the worldwide stage after swimming below the Canadian flag for the previous three and a half years.

Kharun, 20, made the announcement on Instagram, noting that he’s lived within the U.S. his complete life and “always felt like an American.”

Hey everybody, I’ve acquired large information. I’m altering my worldwide illustration from Canada to USA.

First off, I’d prefer to thank everybody in Canada. It’s been unimaginable to journey the world representing Canada and whereas competing with the highest Canadian athletes. John Atkinson and everybody representing Swim Canada, thanks. I’d not be the swimmer or particular person I’m as we speak with out your assist. To my Canadian teammates, thanks. You helped me progress into the particular person I’m as we speak. You guys actually made me really feel like I used to be a part of a household. It’s been an honor carrying the Maple Leaf flag and everybody in Canada will all the time have my assist.

Despite the unimaginable assist I’ve acquired from Canada, I’ve all the time felt like an American.
I grew up in Las Vegas. I’ve lived in America my entire life. I’ve by no means represented a membership crew outdoors of USA Swimming. I’ve acquired a protracted profession left as a swimmer and I’d prefer to be based mostly at dwelling. And that house is within the USA.

Kharun instructed SwimSwam that his sporting citizenship change turns into official on October 26, 2026–simply in time for the U.S. choice meet for the Short Course World Championships.

World Aquatics guidelines dictate {that a} swimmer should observe a 12-month ready interval from the final time they represented their former nation earlier than repping a brand new nation at a World Aquatics occasion. His final meet for Canada was the Toronto leg of the 2025 World Cup, which concluded on October 25.

Kharun was born in Montreal, Quebec, as his Ukrainian dad and mom have been performers within the Canadian-based leisure firm Cirque de Soleil, however he grew up in Las Vegas and swam for the Sandpipers of Nevada.

In 2022, Kharun was named to the U.S. crew for the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, however he was faraway from the roster earlier than the competitors after it was discovered that he solely held a Canadian passport, and thus must compete for the nation he was born in.

After representing Canada on the 2022 Short Course World Championships and 2023 World Aquatics Championships, Kharun formally grew to become an American citizen in early April 2024, however mentioned on the time he deliberate on persevering with to swim for Canada on the worldwide stage.

Later that yr, he made his Olympic debut for Canada, profitable a pair of bronze medals within the males’s 100 fly (50.45) and 200 fly (1:52.80), with the latter nonetheless standing because the Canadian Record.

At the top of 2024, he received the quick course world title within the males’s 200 fly (1:48.24) and added a silver medal within the 50 fly (21.67), with each marks nonetheless standing because the nationwide report. He additionally received two silver and one bronze medal on the Canadian relays on the meet.

At the 2025 World Championships, Kharun received bronze within the males’s 100 fly, placing up a brand new lifetime greatest of fifty.07, simply shy of Josh Liendo‘s nationwide report set on the Paris Olympics (49.99). Kharun was additionally 4th within the 200 fly (1:54.34) and ninth within the 50 fly (22.85).

Most lately internationally, Kharun raced all three legs of the 2025 World Cup, incomes a pair of Triple Crown bonuses within the males’s 50 fly and 200 fly. He set a pair of shortly-lived Canadian Records within the 50 free (20.72) and 100 fly (49.00) in Westmont, which have been each damaged by Liendo one week later in Toronto.

Swimming Canada High Performance Director John Atkinson expressed shock and disappointment with the information.

“Ilya has been on a journey with us since we welcomed him as part of the national team in 2022,” Atkinson said, according to Devin Heroux of CBC Sports. “He’s an awesome particular person and a unbelievable athlete. The historic issues he has finished for Canada within the pool can by no means be taken away.

“What he has done as part of our national team is part of our history. We wish him all the best and he remains a friend to our national team.”

Currently a junior at Arizona State, Kharun was the runner-up to Liendo within the 100 fly on the 2025 Men’s NCAA Championships whereas additionally putting third within the 200 fly and 4th within the 50 free.

The 2024 nationwide champion within the 200 fly, Kharun heads into his third Men’s NCAA Championships in two months. He’ll go head-to-head along with his former countryman, Liendo, within the 100 fly, whereas within the 200 fly, he’ll face his new home rival, Luca Urlando—the defending NCAA champion and reigning world champion.