Mackenzie Padington won’t be returning to the University of Minnesota, the Canadian national team swimmer announced this week.
Padington made the announcement on Instagram Monday.
Padington wrote:
“I would like to confirm that I will not be attending the University Of Minnesota come Fall of 2020. With a lot of consideration I have decided that I want to pursue my swimming career elsewhere. Thank you to the Minnesota coaching staff and team for all that they have taught and given to me as I move forward. The Gophers will always be a part of me and who I am. I’m excited for the future and what it may hold.”
Padington announced in September that she would sit out the season to prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Canadian women’s Olympic Trials are just days after the conclusion of NCAA’s, beginning March 30 in Toronto. The native of Campbell River, British Columbia, has been training with the High Performance Program in Victoria, B.C.
She’d assembled two strong seasons for the Golden Gophers. As a freshman, Padington was part of the All-American 800 freestyle relay squad that finished eighth and took 12th in the 200-yard free.
As a sophomore, she was named an All-American for finishing third in the 500 free and third in the 1,650 free at NCAAs.
Padington competed for Canada in the 2019 World Championships, finishing 24th in the 400-meter freestyle and 18th in the 800 free. She finished 12th and 16th, respectively, in those events at the 2017 World Championships.