Top Age Group Ranking Profile

We are proud to spotlight a group of 15-17 swimmers who are making their mark within the TAG (Top Age Group) Rankings across Canada. Recognized through the leadership and support of the Canadian Swim Coaches Association (CSCA), these athletes represent the next wave of Canadian swimming excellence.

As we launch this series, we celebrate the coaches, clubs, and families who support these swimmers — and we look forward to following their journey as they continue to rise within Canada’s performance pathway.

Confidence. It’s more than just a noun in the vocabulary of Leah Tigert.

Add to that, the term - self-assurance.

What you get in Tigert is unwavering skills and expertise in understanding and grasping the abilities, character and judgement of an individual. It can often lead to thinking about bigger and better things.

Tigert is among the wealth of young Canadian elite and precocious swimmers. There are goals and making dreams come true, combined with talent and potential. It‘s in the mind-set that makes it fun to be around awesome athletes.

Many who know, or watched her perform, would call Tigert a self-described swimmer who enjoys the sport and gives it all in pursuit of greatness. Important to know, is the fire inside Tigert – an accomplished and gifted individual - has her focussed on being productive and always striving to do better.

As a competitive swimmer, who has dealt with triumphs and disappointments, Tigert is enthusiastic and aware that there is always the next day – and a time to aim higher.

The path to success has been bright for the 17-year-old, now a graduate of North Toronto Collegiate and soon to be shuffling off to the University of Tennessee on an athletic scholarship later this year.

There has been no shortage of moments for a manifestation of her talent in water.

Watch her compete and Tigert displays the drive, strength and determination along with the ability to inspire, amaze and even surprise people.

The 6-foot-1 athlete, who possesses a gift that includes skill, know-how and capability woven together, understands hard work, incorporating advice from coaches and the all-important experience that occurs from being in the water.

In competition, something she took seriously at the age of seven, there’s always a beacon that keeps shining for Tigert. Then, when out of the water, her time focuses on reviewing results and expectations.

You won’t find her walking around on horseshoes. When asked about race results, she has the medals to show success and the personal best times that keep on getting better.

A joy to watch, and as an owner of an indelible mindset, over the years there have been countless little things that have led to big accomplishments. Ask her to explain what swimming means to her, and it’s not always about standing on a podium.

“I have fun swimming – it’s that simple,” said Tigert, whose specialty events are the freestyle and backstroke. “It’s been that way since swim lessons when I was younger.”

As for the early days of competing.

“I do remember my first race – and it wasn’t good,” she said with some humour. “I think I came last at a meet in Mississauga.”

That was then. Now is – now.

Great advancements and people talking about her skillset.

Having fun, as defined by Tigert, includes about 15 hours a week over a six-day cycle that combines dryland and water training. Commitment and responsibilities. For years, she has been a member of the Toronto Swim Club.

There have been many swimming highlights over the years. Just ask the long list of recruiting coaches for a synopsis. They had been wanting to sign her up to their university - and then on to competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

While Tigert started 2026 with impressive swim results at a Euromeet in Luxembourg, there was also splendid performances at the Pro Series in Chicago and the Canadian Open in Edmonton. These days, the priority was making Canada’s roster for the Pan Pacific Games later this summer in Irvine. Calif.

At the recent Bell Canadian Swim Trials in Montreal, Tigert put on a marvellous display of speed and talent in the freestyle events. Two races finished with personal best times.

In the 100-metres, she was clocked in 54.76. It was a first-place performance in the Junior category race and the time was third best in the Senior. Her previous best was 54.97 at the Ontario Swimming Championships in Toronto last year.

Then, in the 200-metres, her official time was 1:59.35, a second place showing, and edging her previous best of 1:59.59 at the 2025 Canadian Trials in Victoria, B.C.

As for the 50-metres, Tigert was timed in 25.71 for a fourth place Junior finish - but the time was also seventh best in the Senior category.

For many athletes, the path to success can be littered with volatility and obstacles.

Tigert has been quite fortunate. When asked about any setbacks, she could only think of a rare disqualification that occurred following a false start at the 2025 World Cup hosted by the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

Even the best can make a mistake.

“Winning isn’t everything and when one looks at things, there really is more to life than swimming – the skills, the relationships developed and the learning that never ends,”,” said Tigert, who will be studying biological sciences in university.

“Swimming is important to me – and will always be,” she said. “My training has been good. I work hard on small things, improve on starts, speed and turns, and just go out and do my best.”

Never one to lose confidence, Tigert is an enthusiastic individual with a great personality and quite knowledgeable. She’s a success story in many ways.

“I have benefitted a great deal from coaching,” she added. “Bill O’Toole has been my coach since I joined the National group (at TSC) at age 12 – and Jane Wright (who competed for Canada in the Olympics) was one of the first who saw me as a young swimmer with potential.”

Tigert is on the list of what is referred to as the Top Age Group (TAG) athletes by the Canadian Swimming Coaches Association’s rankings. It’s a system that examines the fastest young swimmers in the country among multiple senior and age levels as well as inspires the next generation of exclusive swimmers.

David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 50+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations. In 2026, he was inducted to the Toronto Sports Hall of Honour with a Lifetime Achievement Award.