Julia Strojnowska’s family immigrated to Canada with the goal of her and her siblings participating in sport to help them grow as individuals and to set and reach their goals.

Last season, Strojnowska, who swims for Langley Olympians Swim Club, represented Canada at the World Junior Swimming Championships in Israel, where she took bronze in the women’s 4×200-metre freestyle relay.

Strojnowska is one of this year’s recipients of a financial award from the Victor Davis Memorial Fund. This year’s recipients were awarded $1,500 each to help offset training costs in the pursuit of excellence.

“I’m very grateful for getting picked as a recipient of the award,” said Strojnowska. “Swimming has always meant everything to me and I always strive to do anything to get better at it. This award will not only help me financially but is also giving me access to more opportunities to further my career in swimming. As a national level swimmer, it is important to have regular access to special treatments, resources, mental wellness and recovery.”

To help alleviate some of the financial strain that comes with participating in swimming, the Victor Davis Memorial Fund was established to allow athletes to focus what they need to do in the pool to reach their goals.

The Memorial Fund was created in memory of Davis and continues to help inspire Canadian swimmers. Davis won four Olympic medals for Canada, including gold in the 200-m breaststroke at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.

A few months after his retirement from competitive swimming, Davis was killed in a hit-and-run incident at the age of 25.

Other swimmers who are recipients of the 2023 fund also include:

Angela Marina – Brantford Aquatic Club

Coach: Paul Armstrong

A Tokyo 2020 Paralympian, Marina has had her fair share of successes and setbacks. With goals to finish in the top eight at the 2023 Para World Swimming Championships in Manchester, Marina didn’t perform has she had hoped finishing ninth in her event. Despite the disappointment of not swimming the way she had hoped, she is committed to push through and swim to her full potential and earn a spot on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Team.

Léa Nugent – Neptune Natation

Coach: Jérémy Dumora

Training with Neptune Natation, 15-year-old Nugent has a strong passion for the sport, which is only fuelled and supported by her mother. The Victor Davis Fund will help Nugent with swim fees, training and travel and she pursues her full potential including her goal of making the Junior Pan Pacific Championships team.

“It means a lot to me to see that Swimming Canada is able to give these honours, to be recognized for my efforts and my work. [This award will help me] work even harder to achieve other goals.”

Madison Kryger, Brock Niagara Aquatics/High Performance Centre – Ontario

Coach: Dave Ling/Ryan Mallette

Commuting between Brock Niagara Aquatics Club and driving to Toronto to train under Ryan Mallette at the High-Performance Centre ­– Ontario, Kryger wants to continue her training and upward success in the sport after breaking provincial records in the 2022-2023 season.

Chloe Walker – Uxbridge Swim Club

Coach: Sarah Steinke

Walker has demonstrated to herself, her coaches and teammates the level of commitment to swimming. Her coach Sarah Steinke of Uxbridge Swim Club speaks highly of her sportsmanship, respect to those around her and how she encourages a nurturing and fun environment. The Victor Davis Fund will fuel her journey, potential and passion in the sport by offsetting some costs to help her focus on training and racing.

Kelly Choi – Kelowna Aquajets

Coach: Marc Tremblay

Moving to Kelowna with the focus on swimming and pursuing her goals in 2023, Choi hopes to progress through the sport at the highest level with the support of her parents and coach. The Victor Davis Memorial Fund will assist Choi in achieving those goals by alleviating the costs of meets, transportation and swim fees.

Antoine Sauve – CAMO

Coach: Claude St-Jean

Antoine Sauve hopes to continue to compete at a high level. As part of the Canadian contingent at World Junior Championships, Sauve helped both the men’s and mixed 4×100-metre freestyle relays take bronze. As he develops in the sport, Sauve wants to have more international racing opportunities.

Timothé Barbeau – Neptune Natation

Coach: Chrystèle Roy-L’Écuyer

After seeing success at competitions such as Best Fest and Canada Summer Games, Barbeau swam to a national team representing Canada at World Junior Championships. His continued achievements mean consulting the best physios, chiropractors and other therapists to ensure he is on top of his training. The Victor Davis Memorial Fund will help with the fees associated to ensure he continues to race on the national and world stage.

Nicholas Duncan – University of Calgary Swim Club

Coach: Carl Simonson

Swimming out of the University of Calgary Swim Club, Duncan has a drive to compete and train at a high performance level. As he looks ahead to pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Physiology, he knows having experiences at international and national competition will only help. With the Victor Davis Memorial Fund, the costs of physiotherapists, nutrition, travel and training camps  will be partially covered by the grant.

The Victor Davis Fund was established in 1990 and relies on donations, large or small, to carry on the legacy of one of Canada’s most cherished swimmers. Members of the swimming community are encouraged to contribute at: https://www.swimming.ca/en/donations/