Features

August 6, 2025

2025 Canada Games Profile

News

Angelina Guttman

Leading up to the Canada Games, Swim Ontario is highlighting some of the members of our fantastic team!


For Angelina Guttman, it isn’t simply a matter of just getting into the water.

It’s called process.

An action, technique, procedure – call it what you want – that she embraces when the focus is on competitive swimming.

Striving for the top is the goal. At times, like most people know, life can be a challenge.

A predominantly freestyle swimmer, Guttman is quick, has lots of endurance and is always brimming with confidence. Still learning the technical elements, every trip to the pool shows improvements in both the backstroke and breaststroke. Glancing at her swim record reveals some impressive results.

In May of 2024, Guttman competed at Ontario’s Special Olympics Provincial Games in Waterloo and took home gold medals in four events.

About a year later, make that March of 2025, Guttman was back competing.

This time, at the Ontario Age Groups event in Toronto. It was also a qualifier for Special Olympics swimmers hoping to earn a spot and go on to compete at the Canada Games set for August in St. John’s, Nfld.

Again, Guttman was at her best. This time, it was winning four of five events.

Some call it personal growth. Others view it as a superb individual performance by an athlete with autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). At every opportunity, Guttman continues to showcase her accomplishments and ascendancy in a sport she adores.

“I love swimming, having fun and look forward to winning,” she said in a telephone conversation with assistance from her mother, Lisa, who is also a Special Olympics coach. “That’s it.”

For the 20-year-old from the Halton Hills Waves swim program and a member of the Georgetown District High swim team, there is no proving ground. The galaxy of celebration for her is special like other remarkable episodes in the water.

Guttman had lived in a foster home for three years and was later adopted at age eight. For the past 12 years, home for her is in the charming rural community of Campbellville - part of the Niagara Escarpment.

Excitement, predominantly reserved for her single parent mom and a cuddly precious pet dog, came in an e-mail that confirmed her selection to compete in the national showcase of elite Canadian amateur swimmers.

Going to the Canada Games is also a first – and she’ll be quite busy competing in five events with favorites being the 50 and 100-metres freestyle events.

Guttman is one of 34 swimmers chosen to represent Ontario at the national gathering of young, skilled and gifted individuals. The Games are set for August 8 to 25 with swimming at the Aquarena Fitness Centre, located on the campus of Memorial University.

Ontario’s contingent is made up of Olympic, Paralympic and Special Olympics athletes set to claim supremacy at the largest amateur sports event in the country. It’s considered to be a showcase of able-bodied athletes and athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Only four Special Olympics athletes were chosen: two males and two females. Guttman made the cut – and, for her, the objective is a chance at a medal and appearance on the podium.

“I’m very excited, so happy,” said Guttman, a multi-sport athlete who has strong physical skills and has been a member of the swim team that has won the previous two Ontario high school championships.

Also pumped with emotional energy is her mother.

“People have seen what (Angelina) has achieved and it’s getting others involved as well,” said Lisa. “Her dedication to swimming and the results have eclipsed everything.”

With attention now on helping Team Ontario continue its dominance at the Canada Games, both mom and daughter have their fingers crossed on another target – the 2026 Special Olympics National Games set for Medicine Hat, Alta. from August 11 to 15.

“She’s tackled every challenge and done what was needed to qualify – we’re just taking one event at a time and waiting to hear the names of those who are selected,” said Lisa.


David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 50+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.