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The whole world will watch the rivalry between the United States and Canada on the ice and at other sporting events when top athletes travel to Milan Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The heat around Summer Olympics athletes only intensified when a two-time Canadian medalist decided to switch from Team Canada to Team USA on Monday.
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Josh Liendo (Canada), left, Kristof Milak (Hungary) and Ilya Kharun (Canada) during the medal ceremony for the men’s 100 meter butterfly during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games at Paris La Défense Arena on August 3, 2024. (Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports)
Ilya Kharun, a Montreal-born Olympic swimmer who won two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Games, announced he is joining the United States. He thanked Swimming Canada in a post on Instagram.
“John Atkinson and everyone who represents Swimming Canada, thank you. I would not be the swimmer or person I am today without your support,” he captioned the post. “To my Canadian teammates, thank you. You helped me become the person I am today. You truly made me feel part of a family. It was an honor to carry the Maple Leaf flag and everyone in Canada will always have my support.”
Kharun said he “always felt like an American” despite the overwhelming support from Canada.
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Canada’s Ilya Kharun competes in the 400-meter individual medley during the FINA Swimming World Cup preliminaries, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at the Indiana University Natatorium. (Grace Hollars/USA TODAY Sports)
“I grew up in Las Vegas. I’ve lived in America my whole life. I’ve never represented a club team outside of USA Swimming,” he added. “I have a long swimming career left and I would like to live at home. And that home is in the United States.”
Kharun moved to Las Vegas when he was young while his parents, who were Ukrainian acrobats, were pursuing careers with Cirque du Soleil.
The 20-year-old butterfly swimmer won two bronze medals in Paris after winning a gold medal at the 2024 world championships in Budapest. He also won a bronze medal last year in Singapore.
Kharun will have to wait a year before he can officially compete under the American flag, as he must be released from Swimming Canada. He should have plenty of time to try to qualify for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Ilya Kharun of Team Canada is seen on the podium after winning bronze in the men’s 100m butterfly during day eight of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Paris La Defense Arena on August 3, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
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Atkinson, Swimming Canada’s high performance director and national coach, told CBC he was disappointed with Kharun’s decision. But he wishes him the best for his next venture.
