Canadian Olympian Kelsey Wog Announces Retirement
Two-time Canadian Olympic breaststroker Kelsey Wog announced her retirement from the sport this week. Wog made the announcement on Tuesday, two days shy of her 26th birthday.
“The end of an unforgettable era,” Wog wrote. “I’m so grateful for everything this sport has given me, the friends, the lessons, the experiences, and what it feels like to truly find a passion. I’m stepping away from this sport feeling nothing but joy and peace.
“Thank you all for everything, it’s been a privilege.”
The breaststroker from Saskatchewan qualified for each of the last two Olympics for Canada. Her biggest international medal was a silver in the 200 breast at the 2016 Short-Course World Championships at age 18.
In Tokyo, Wog didn’t advance to the semifinals of the 100 breast and was disqualified in the semis of the 200 breast after finishing 16th in prelims. She was bumped from the 400 medley relay in favor of Sydney Pickrem, who didn’t qualify for the 100 breast in Tokyo, in both prelims and finals. That squad won bronze.
In Paris, Wog finished 13th in the 200 breast. She didn’t hit an A cut to qualify for the 100 breast.
Wog’s accomplishments include a bronze with the Canadian women’s medley relay at the 2022 World Championships. At that meet, she finished fourth in the 200 breast, .66 seconds shy of Kate Douglass for bronze. She could never quite duplicate that speed, though, in an Olympic year. She was eighth at the 2023 World Championships, then won silver in the event at the 2023 Pan American Games that fall.
Wog was a standout in the Canadian college ranks with the University of Manitoba. She swam in the International Swimming League. Generally a better short-course swimmer, she also packed some freestyle speed in her day, winning relay medals in the 800 free relay at the 2022 World Short-Course Championships (silver) and in the 400 free relay at the 2017 World University Games (gold).