Schinkelshoek competes against some of the world’s best swimmers

Gavin Schinkelshoek May 2026

To be the best, you have to go against the best.

Pain Court’s Gavin Schinkelshoek recently competed at the Fort Lauderdale Open, held April 29-May 2.

The meet featured Olympic and World Championship swimmers such as Summer McIntosh, Josh Liendo, Caleb Dressel, Katie Ledecky, Leon Marchand and Gretchen Walsh.

Schinkelshoek is finishing up his Grade 11 year at Pain Court Secondary School. He was a two-time OFSAA gold medalist earlier this year.

The Fort Lauderdale Open is a meet that requires participants make a time standard to attend. Schinkelshoek swam with the Windsor Aquatic Club. It was a fast field that featured some of the world’s top swimmers. Swimmers advanced on times in the all-age heats, with top 16 going to the A and B finals, with the remaining top swimmers under the age of 18 advancing to the junior finals.

Schinkelshoek advanced to four junior finals and a A final and a B final. His results included a pair of breakthrough swims. He said it was a great experience.

“All of the athletes were so kind. The swimming was some of the fastest that I have ever seen,” Schinkelshoek said, adding he will used what he learned at this meet at the Canadian Trials being held in Montreal in July.

He was seventh in the A final in the men’s 100 backstroke in 57.05 seconds.

He was second in the B final and 10th overall in the 200 backstroke in 2:06.06, a new Windsor Aquatic Club record, and a personal best.

Schinkelshoek finished a sub 26 second in the 50 metre backstroke to finish second in the junior final. In the 50 metre backstroke he finished in second place in the junior final. In the 100 freestyle he finished seventh in the junior final.