Biography

Ilya Kharun broke the Canadian record in the men’s 200m butterfly twice at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, first in the semi-final and then in the final. He finished in fourth place, his time of 1:53.82 putting him just 0.16 off the podium. He also reached the semi-finals of the 50m and 100m butterfly events in his World Championship debut at the age of 18, making him Swimming Canada’s Top Performer of the Year.

Kharun’s first major international competition was the World Short Course Swimming Championships (25m) in December 2022. He won silver in the 100m butterfly, setting a junior world record, and helped Canada to win bronze in the mixed 4 x 50m medley relay. He also set Canadian records in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly events.

The previous month, Kharun had won two Swimming World Cup medals in the 100m butterfly (silver) and 200m butterfly (bronze) in Indianapolis.

Kharun competed at the Canadian Swimming Trials for the first time in 2023, winning the 200m butterfly. He finished second in the 50m and 100m butterfly as well as the 200m individual medley.

Kharun swims collegiately at Arizona State University. At the end of his junior year, he won two gold medals at the 2024 NCAA Championships, winning the 200-yard butterfly and helping the Sun Devils set the NCAA record in the 4×100 medley relay. This followed his victories in the 100-yard and 200-yard butterfly events as well as four relay events at the Pac-12 Championships.

A little more about Ilya

Getting started in sport: I started swimming at 4 years old… Outside interests: Sports Business major at Arizona State University… Tips: Both parents were acrobats for Cirque du Soleil and traveled the world to perform; they were in Montreal when he was born, before moving to Las Vegas…