By Jim Morris

One of Ingrid Wilm’s joys is reading fantasy books that tell tales of wizards and dragons.

Her body is decorated with tattoos inspired by those books symbolizing protection and victory in battle.

Wilm’s career could be a plot for one of those books.

She has persevered through a nagging elbow injury, the disappointment of failing to qualify for two Olympics and scrounging to pay the bills so she could keep swimming. While others may have given up on her, Wilm refused to quit.

“I never want to give up before I’m ready,” said the 24-year-old, who trains with coach Dave Johnson at Calgary’s Cascade Swim Club.

“I was a little disappointed to see how many people did expect me to quit after I didn’t make the team for Tokyo. It hurt, but I’ve always truly had the belief this was something that I could do. I just felt like there was more in me. It was a matter of more work and belief.”

Wilm staged an upset on the opening day of the 2023 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials, defeating Olympic and world championship silver medallist Kylie Masse in the 100-metre backstroke. She won the race in a personal best time of 58.80 seconds, her first time under 59 seconds.

“It was such a huge confidence boost and such a weight off my shoulders,” said Wilm. “Now, honestly, it kind of feels unreal, like it wasn’t me.

“I’m looking at the result and rewatching the race to see what I can do better and work on.”

Wilm was second to Masse in the 50 and 200-m backstroke to qualify for the World Aquatics Championships, being held July 14-30 in Fukuoka, Japan. It will be her second long-course world championships.

Wilm finished .03 of second off the podium in the 50-m backstroke at last summer’s world championships in Budapest, then swam the morning backstroke heat in the 4×100-m medley relay which earned a bronze medal in the evening final.

Back in 2016 Wilm had her sights set on qualifying for the Swimming Canada team heading to the Rio Olympics. But during a pre-trials meet held at the University of Calgary she hit her arm on the wall, tearing the ligaments in her elbow.

“I didn’t have much money so I was saving all my fancy gear for trials,” she said. “That meant I was using my really old scratched up goggles that were pretty dark.

“The flags at the U of C pool didn’t have triangles over all the lanes. I didn’t see the flags.”

Johnson, who has coached Wilm since she was 11 years old, said the injury hobbled her for several years. She still sometimes has trouble holding a pencil.

“She basically had the use of one arm and still made the finals in 2016 as a young kid,” said Johnson. “Her progress was slowed by that considerably.”

Wilm spent three years training in Vancouver, but after just missing the Tokyo Games, returned to Calgary and reached out to Johnson.

“She wrote and said, ‘May I be considered to come back and swim?’ ” said Johnson. “That’s a different viewpoint than 90 per cent of the kids out there.

“We had a conversation with her, ‘Why do you want to come back?’ She said, ‘I can beat all those girls.’ Then we went to work.”

Wilm has also struggled financially, at one point losing her sports funding.

“My parents are divorced,” she said. “My father is not a very nice man. I’ve had to help out with the bills since I was 14.”

Over the years Wilm has juggled different jobs while still training. She’s worked as a swim coach and in the front office of a physiotherapy office. While attending the University of British Columbia she was a dog walker and house sitter.

Her sister, who she lives with, and other siblings helped pay for her to attend the 2019 FISU Games in Naples, Italy, where she was part of the bronze-medal 4×100-medley relay.

“There’s been times when I’ve actually thought I would have to quit if it wasn’t for really kind people around me,” she said. “I’ve received anonymous donations, which has been incredibly kind. If it weren’t for them, I would not have been able to keep swimming.

“I’ve always wished they weren’t anonymous . . . so now that I have money, I could pay them back.”

Wilm’s confidence received a major boost when she was a late signing with the LA Current of the International Swimming League in 2021. She won six of the eight 100-m backstroke races and was the top ranked woman on the LA team.

Among the fantasy books Wilm likes to read are Lord of the Rings and the Eragon series about a teenage boy and his dragon.

“There are so many times I’d associate with it because . . . they would store their lifeforce into a ring,” she said. “Sometimes before a 200 back, I’d think I need that ring, a big spell is coming on right now.”

Wilm credits Johnson with restoring her faith in herself. She heads into this summer’s world championships feeling healthy and confident while believing the podium is possible.

“When I was at university, I was a little low mentally, but coming home to Dave I’m just enjoying swimming again and having fun,” she said.

“I’ve always truly had the belief I could be there with the girls at the top of the world.”

Johnson believes there are plenty of chapters left to write in Wilm’s story.

“She’s very motivated, very focused and disciplined around her swimming,” he said.

“She just wouldn’t’ give up on her dream.”