An event that hasn’t happened in Thunder Bay in a few years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Thunder Bay ThunderBolts Swim Club is hosting a time trial Saturday morning at the Canada Games Complex.

“The swimmers are finally talking about racing and their events,” said Head Coach John McLeod. “It’s starting to feel like all of the last 20-22 months of hardships and changing policies are worth it. Now we just got to get in the water and race and be a team again.”

“We started back in the pool a month ago,” added 15-year-old Sam Chisholm, who will compete in a pair of races (200 metre freestyle, 200 metre butterfly). “I’ve been training hard to try and be ready since we haven’t raced in a long time. I want to be prepared.”

For the event, distancing will be in order as will mask wearing on the pool deck.

Only volunteers, coaches and the swimmers will be allowed in the facility under the COVID-19 Return To Swimming framework put out by Swimming Canada.

The club is aiming to host another meet in four weeks with the eventual goal of returning to provincial and national events.