Team History
| Penguin Swimming (1999) Penguin Swimming was founded on February 2, 1999 (Ground Hog Day) at Scona Pool in Edmonton, Alberta. After seriously considering Gators and Gorilla Swimming, Penguin Swimming was finally decided upon. At the time only two other penguin swim teams in the world existed (UK and New Zealand). Since then, additional penguin swim teams have emerged in the USA, UK and Canada. The initial penguin for the logo was modified from a children’s colouring book. Shortly after, simple Penguin Swimming text was incorporated into a full logo, with the initial idea that the large orange "P" on the side of a cap would be easily seen at swim meets. |
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| The Early Years (1999-2002) The team started with 7 swimmers that new nothing about competitive swimming, and in March 1999 a Masters program was introduced. In June of 1999, 11 swimmers attended the team’s first swim meet in Wetaskwin, AB. Swimmer William Kennedy produced the team’s first ever result with a time of 1:40.28 in the Boys 6&Under 50 Freestyle. In the Fall of 2000, Penguin Swimming came to an agreement to run the UofA Masters Swim Club at the University of Alberta. The masters team initially consisted of 34 swimmers, but quickly grew to over 115 swimmers. At the start of the 2001-02 swimming season, the masters program separated from Penguin Swimming, and was renamed Penguin Masters Swimming. |
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| Penguin Logo Change (2003) On the suggestion of a master swimmer, the process of changing the logo started in 2003. Nearly 30 NCAA logo examples were submitted to a local design company with specific instructions to create a tougher looking penguin. Very little changes from the first draft of the logo were done, and in October 2003 at Bonnie Doon pool, the new Penguin Swimming logo was revealed to the team at the annual Penguin’s Challenge. The 2003 Penguin Swimming logo remains in place today. |
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| First Provincial Swimmers (2004) 12 year old Kasey Van Spengen became the first Penguin Swimmer to qualify for the Alberta Provincial Swimming Championships July 15-18, 2004 in Edmonton, AB. Kasey qualified in the 800FR and was accompanied at the meet by her teammates Émilienne Gervais and Kaitlin Normandeau. |
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| Penguin’s New Home (2015-present) In September 2015 Penguin Swimming moved into the team’s new home at MacEwan University. |
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