Canada Games Legacy Series

Over the next few weeks, Swim Ontario is presenting the Canada Games Legacy Series, where we take a look back at swimmers who represented Team Ontario at past Canada Summer Games.

Michael Pacheco believes in himself.

While that’s always a significant and meaningful start for an individual, Pacheco also has a great deal of pride in saying that his swim experiences, and success stories, would not have happened without the outstanding commitment of Special Olympics coach Shirley Shaw.

Every athlete seems to have a specialty event, including swimmers, but Pacheco is one of those guys with versatility. Whatever comes his way, the focus is on doing well. Shaw has had a great deal to do with that along with family – his parents Joe and Samantha, and four younger siblings.

Get Pacheco in a one-on-one conversation, and he’ll accentuate over and over that the most satisfying facet of sport goes beyond water. It’s about an association with people, learning, and being able to make ends meet.

Pacheco is intellectually delayed, but highly functional in that he works fulltime as a general labourer for a car manufacturer, drives, and understands that he might have to work a bit harder at things. To be successful, that can be said for everyone.

Toss aside the promises and predictions made by others, the most meaningful aspect of Pacheco’s involvement in aquatics, was finding a way to overcome struggles, develop patience, and take the advice of people who wanted to help him excel.

That’s exactly the recipe he followed, and it showed in the areas of achievement and happiness.

Pacheco, who was born in Brantford and now lives in Simcoe, swims four times a week at the local recreational centre. Quite the advancement from the younger years of swim lessons at the age of five.

After years of playing hockey, he finally put the competitive skates away and traded in the hockey stick for a bathing suit. His parents insisted on him finding a form of exercise, since the game on blades was now a done deal.

For Pacheco, something happened at the age of 18. Late for many, that’s when he became serious about swimming. He had worked at a co-op program at the community centre pool when he was in high school and, well, re-acquainted himself with the facility and others.

It was more than just fun. The competitive streak hit home.

“I remembered the fun that I had swimming at a younger age and just wanted to return to it,” he recalled, as was the lifeguard at the pool who noticed him that he displayed the strokes, interest, and determination to do well and hinted at him joining Special Olympics.

He had a conversation with his parents, who are both paramedics, and the fondness for swimming really became apparent. Pacheco became aware of opportunities and received an invitation to compete against others from across Canada.

“It really goes back to those private swim lessons, followed by my enjoyment of just doing laps,” said Pacheco. “Someone noticed the way I was swimming and introduced me to the Special Olympics.”

Picture his first competition.

It was the 2012 Canada Special Olympics in London, Ont. As expected, Pacheco was nervous. But there was something else. He was eager to show the swimming world that he had the capability and boldness to compete for a medal.

It turns out, he didn’t give himself enough credit.

It wasn’t just one trip to the winner’s circle. Pacheco claimed gold medals in each of the 50-metre freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. He was good at all four strokes.

That next year, the competition was much tougher. Pacheco would make his debut at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Que. Pacheco’s best showing, in five events, was a fourth-place finish.

Disappointment translated to more work, and the determination to improve his race times. A toughness to never give up took over. Resolute and strong-willed, Pacheco was focussed on the reward of progress. It worked.

“The Canada Summer Games was a great experience for me, and I did my best,” he said. “What I also learned was that I could do better. I had to find a way to have fun and work harder.”

In 2018, at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Antigonish, N.S., Pacheco admitted that while optimistic, he wasn’t sure what to expect. It didn’t take long for him to find out.

Try three medals. The gold came as a member of the Ontario relay squad while bronze medals were earned in the 50-metre butterfly (38.96 seconds) and the 50-metre backstroke (40.39 seconds).

His parents said their son kept talking about how special the Canada Summer Games meant to him. He never talked about medals, but instead it was the atmosphere and the people who supported his goal.

Remember that special coach? The one, who Pacheco praised for being so uplifting.

“I told him I was there, as a coach, to make him learn, get better and that my job was not to babysit,” recalled Shaw, who has been coaching the Simcoe Seals Swim Club. “I told him to go out and feel good about achieving so many things in life.”

Shaw, a former recipient of the Governor General’s award for volunteer work, looks back at the many conversations she has had with Pacheco.

“He came in raw and now is the kind of individual who is more confident than ever, successful and a very good listener,” said Shaw. “Caring and inspirational is the way I would describe (Pacheco). He’s done well, others look up to him, and he’s our big cheerleader.”

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 45+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.