While Canada's women's swimmers have been regulars on the Olympics podium recently, it hasn't been the same story for the men.
Ilya Kharun hopes to change that Wednesday.
The Montreal-born Kharun, 19, posted the third-fastest time in the semifinals of the 200-metre butterfly to qualify for Wednesday's final (2:37 p.m. ET / 11:37 a.m. PT).
Hungary's Kristof Milak, the world record holder, was first in one minute, 52.72 seconds, followed by France's Leon Marchand (1:53.40) and Kharun (1:54.01).
The Canadian men didn't win a swimming medal in the past two Olympics and didn't even qualify for an event final three years ago in Tokyo.
Kharun finished fourth in last year's world championships in this event.
Kharun was born in Montreal but has spent most of his life in the United States. His parents are performers with Cirque du Soleil, per Devin Heroux of CBC Olympics.
The family moved to Las Vegas around the time Kharun was one.
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