Ilya Kharun

Biography

Ilya Kharun broke the Canadian record in the men’s 200m butterfly twice at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, first in the semifinal and then in the final. He finished just in fourth place, his time of 1:53.82 putting him just 0.16 out of a podium position. He also reached the semifinals in the 50m and 100m butterfly events in his world championship debut at age 18, making him Swimming Canada’s Breakout Performer of the Year.

Kharun’s first major international meet was the short course World Swimming Championships (25m) in December 2022. He won silver in the 100m butterfly, setting a world junior record, and helped Canada win bronze in the mixed 4x50m medley relay. He also set Canadian records in the 50m, 100m, and 200m butterfly events.

The month prior, Kharun 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 freshman 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 4x100m medley relay. That followed his wins 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 into the Sport: Started swimming at age 4… Outside Interests: Majoring in sports business at Arizona State University… Odds and Ends: Both parents were acrobats for Cirque du Soleil and travelled around the world performing; they were in Montreal when he was born, before moving to Las Vegas…