Jessica Deglau

Who is Jessica Deglau?

Jessica Deglau was a member of the Canadian Olympic Team in swimming in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. Deglau swam for the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club in her youth, until becoming a member of the national team. In addition to swimming on the national team, she swam for and graduated from the University of British Columbia.

The Vancouver resident first broke the Canadian record in the 200 meter butterfly at the 1996 Olympics clocking 2:11.68 for sixth spot and bettered it two years later at the world championships, again finishing sixth.

However in the 200 fly at the 1999 Pan American Games Deglau went under the magic 2:10 barrier clocking 2:09.64, a time that would have earned her the silver medal at the 1996 Games and a bronze at the 1998 worlds. It was the second fastest time in the world in 1999 behind Australian world and Olympic champion Susie O'Neill's 2:07.35.

Deglau won the 1996 Elaine Tanner Award, presented annually to Canada's outstanding junior female athlete.