Olympic Swimmer Ilya Khan Switches to Team USA

As the 2026 Winter Olympics approach, the excitement builds around the competition, particularly the anticipated matchups between the United States and Canada. This was heightened recently when Ilya Khan, a Montreal-born swimmer who took home two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Games, announced his decision to join Team USA.

In an Instagram post, Khan expressed gratitude towards Swimming Canada: “Thank you, John Atkinson and everyone at Swim Canada. Without your support, I wouldn’t be the swimmer or person I am today.” He also acknowledged his Canadian teammates, mentioning how they made him feel like part of a family. However, he noted that despite the support from Canada, he “always felt like an American.”

Khan mentioned that he was raised in Las Vegas and has lived in the U.S. his entire life. “I’ve never represented a club team other than USA Swimming,” he said. “I have a long career ahead of me, so I want to be based in my hometown, and that hometown is America.” His family, both originally from Ukraine, moved to Las Vegas to pursue careers with Cirque du Soleil.

The 20-year-old has had a notable career thus far, winning a gold medal at the 2024 World Championships in Budapest and a bronze at the Singapore Games the previous year. To officially compete as a member of the U.S. team, Khan will need to be released from Swimming Canada, so he will likely wait a year before he can do so. This gives him ample time to secure a spot for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

John Atkinson, High Performance Director and Canadian National Swimming Coach, shared his disappointment regarding Khan’s decision but expressed hope for his future endeavors.