ɪn hɪz ˈɜːli kɚɹˈɪɹ, æɾ ˈeɪtiːn ɪn mˈeɪ ʌv nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn, æt ðə kˈænədə kˈʌp æt ðə væŋkˈuːvɚɹ əkwˈæɾɪk sˈɛntɚ, hiː tˈʊk fˈɜːst plˈeɪs ɪnðə wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪdmˈiːɾɚ bˈækstɹoʊk wɪð ɐ tˈaɪm ʌv fˈɪfti nˈaɪn.nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn.
In his early career, at 18 in May of 1989, at the Canada Cup at the Vancouver Aquatic Center, he took first place in the 100-metre backstroke with a time of 59.99.