Jason Block

Biography

Breaststroke specialist Jason Block was a dominant swimmer during his five-year undergraduate career at the University of Calgary, winning 11 Canadian Interuniversity Sport gold medals for the Dinos. In his final year in 2012-13, he set the CIS championship record in both the 50m and 100m breaststrokes as he swept the gold medals in all three breaststroke events for the third time in his career. It was his fourth straight victory in the 100m breaststroke, helping the Dinos captain to be named the University of Calgary’s male athlete of the year. Block competed at two editions of the Universiade in 2011 and 2013, advancing to the semifinals in the 50m and 100m breaststroke at the latter. After achieving a career highlight with his 200m breaststroke silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Trials, Block made it to the top of the podium at the 2016 Olympic Trials with his win in the 100m breaststroke. Block trains with the Trojan Swim Club in Los Angeles.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Lawrence and Glenda Block… Older sister Carmen… Getting into Sport: Began swimming at age 4 because his sister was already in the sport and his mother grew tired of looking after him at the pool… Outside Interests: Self-proclaimed Corvette enthusiast who enjoys racing during the off-season… Odds and Ends: Graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2013… Odds and Ends: Has a cup of coffee, preferably Tim Horton’s, prior to competing… Role models include three-time Olympic medallist Tom Ponting and Canadian breaststroke legend Victor Davis… Favorite motto: “Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I will do what others can’t”…