Kraken's Oleksiak wants to challenge Olympian sister, Penny, to swimming race
Penny Oleksiak better look out: There's a new swimmer in the family.
The Olympian's brother, Seattle Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, says he's started to incorporate swimming into his training regimen to help get himself out of his comfort zone.
"I might have to race Penny," Jamie joked in an interview with TSN's Mark Masters. "I'm gonna need a long, long head start before she gets going."
Swimming is a "late development" for the 28-year-old, but he's giving it a go.
"Things can get kind of monotonous when you do the same training over and over again. So I think doing swimming is something a little bit different, kind of use different muscles that you're not used to and developing them," Jamie said.
Jamie has a lot of work to do before he can reach the same heights as his sister, who just became the all-time most decorated Canadian Olympian while competing at the Tokyo Games.
"I wouldn't say I'm the best swimmer ever," he said, adding, "I'm definitely more of a sinker."
Jamie's favorite stroke at the moment is freestyle.
"I can't do anything else, basically," he said. "I'm not much of a swimmer, so I'm sticking to the basics right now, we'll see what happens down the road, though."
Between Penny's historic success and Jamie's new five-year deal with the Kraken, the Oleksiaks will have plenty to celebrate when Penny returns to Canada. Jamie says the family plans to head to the cottage and catch up.