Nicholas Bennett has earned many medals in his years as a swimmer. This year he's going for the top prize. (Paranation)

By Spencer Sterritt

big splash

Oceanside swimmer named to Team Canada in upcoming Paralympics

Jun 4, 2021 | 5:29 AM

NANAIMO – It’s a dream come true for 17-year-old swimmer with autism spectrum disorder and his family.

Nicholas Bennett was named on Thursday, June 2 to Team Canada for the upcoming Paralympics held at some point this year in Tokyo.

Bennett splits his time training at the Ravensong Aquatic Centre under the close eye of his sister Haley and in Montreal at a high performance centre.

“I got to tell him (about going to the Paralympics),” Haley told NanaimoNewsNOW. “He gave me a big hug and teared up a bit. It was a really special moment and something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”

Bennett has enjoyed swimming since he was 10 and it’s been a near-daily source of satisfaction.

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“He would swim for therapy when he was younger,” Haley said. “It was a place where he could be really comfortable, so we’re really happy he can incorporate that into his life now.”

She said when Bennett was born his family was unsure if he’d be able to speak or walk.

“The fact he’s at this point now is amazing. It’s been incredible to watch and be part of.”

At Ravensong, Bennet trains for two-and-a-half hours in the morning, goes to the gym for another 90 minutes, naps and eats in the afternoon and then returns to the water for another two hours. He trains even harder at the Montreal facility in preparation for the Paralympics.

“It’s really an incredible effort on his part and our family,” Haley said. “My mom moved across the country to live with him in (Montreal). When he’s home he trains with me, so it’s a big effort.”

Bennett has trained for the Paralympics since 2019 when he won three golds and a silver in the Lima Para Pan Am Games.

He qualified for the Paralympics in an unusual way after an unusual year.

A scheduling conflict between the swim trials and the World Para swimming championships in Peru meant he and other competitors submitted training logs and video recordings of their swims.

He and three others were selected to round out the team of swimmers representing Canada.

Bennett will continue to train at Ravensong with his sister before heading back to Montreal at some point in the near future to finish training.

The Tokyo Paralympics are set to start on Aug. 24.

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt