Canada Games Team Feature

Leading up to the 2022 Canada Games, we are sharing stories about some of the people representing Team Ontario in the pool this summer

When you first get an opportunity to talk with Nicholas Scott, and the focus is on his accomplishments and triumphs in swimming, it doesn’t take long to understand that you’ve met someone special. Make that, a truly sincere and caring individual.

This 19-year-old has a fascinating story – one that goes far beyond being the recipient of community builder and citizenship awards, the benefactor of academic honors, playing clarinet at driveway concerts during the pandemic and bringing smiles to senior citizens at a community resource centre where he works part-time.

Scott was born in Bulgaria and lived in an orphanage for just over three years, having to cope with developmental delays and fear. He was adopted and home for him and his family, is now Ottawa.

He also has a common foot abnormality called talipes equinovarus, which is a medical term used to describe feet pointing downward and inward. Research and statistics claim about one to four of every 1,000 babies are born with clubfoot. The condition affects boys twice as often as it does girls. His calf muscles are also under-developed, making it harder for him to kick.

But that hasn’t stopped this young man from enjoying life, having just finished his first year at Carleton University where he is pursuing a career in social work.

Scott is also a darn good swimmer.

Focussed on the competitive side of the sport, he’s geared up for his first appearance at the Canada Games. That’s the national showcase of amateur sport set for August 6 – 21 in the Niagara Region of Ontario.

Scott has come a long way from those early days of being fearful of water. Now, he can’t get enough of it. He trains seven times a week and does dryland training.

Days and many hours of lessons, a determination to excel and benefit from opportunities and strong coaching, Scott owes a great deal to his coaches and teammates at the Ottawa Youth Olympians Swim Club (OYO). Let’s also not forget the dedication and support from his parents and older sister.

Time to toot the horn for Scott, too.

His speciality is the freestyle, preferring distance events over sprints. As for personal best times, it’s one minute, 06.53 for the 100 metres freestyle clocked at a 2020 provincial competition in Toronto. In the 400 metres, his tops – a time of 4:53.00 at an invitational meet in Montreal in May of 2022.

Scott is also thrilled with several top finishes at the 2022 Eastern Canada championships in Point Claire, Que., and a fourth-place finish at the 2019 Nationals in the 100 metres freestyle in 2019.

Very teachable, always looking for ways to improve and committed to benefitting from good advice, Scott saw the fear of water disappear quickly. A talented freestyle swimmer, he has also adjusted to competing against many of the top para swimmers in Canada.

“When I was at swim practice, I heard that one of my teammates was picked (for the Canada Games) and I was so happy for her – but I also wondered if there was a chance it would be me, too,” said Scott. “I went to work conducting activities for seniors and that’s when I received a text from my swim coach. He said I had made the Ontario team and was also going to the Canada Games.”

Cautious at being over exuberant while at work, and having a feeling of excitement and disbelief that he had been selected, Scott took a screen shot of the text message and shared the good news with his parents.

“I competed at the Nationals in Winnipeg in 2019 and narrowly missed winning a medal - but being picked (for the Canada Games) was huge for me,” said Scott. “I was told that if you had competed internationally, you wouldn’t qualify. There was some concern because I was chosen for a team set to compete in Indianapolis, but that was cancelled because of the pandemic.”

Now, Scott is focussed on what many have called – a chance of a lifetime and something cherished forever.

“For me, this is the biggest thing yet and after being cooped up because of Covid, lockdowns and just being frustrated, this happens,” said Scott. “I hope to do my best, improve my times, form friendships, and just have fun.

“I am so grateful to my parents for all the early hours and brutal mornings of getting me to practise, being there for me and thankful to my coach for his instruction and never giving up on me.”

Boyko Antonov has coached Scott for the past five years and speaks highly of the qualities and abilities of his prodigy.

“He’s polite, a dream to work with and I believe he can one day compete at the international level,” said Antonov, who is head coach at the OYO club. “(the pandemic) affected everyone, but he’s picked it up, now swimming personal best times, endurance is his specialty, and I expect him to do well at the Canada Games.”

As for what lies ahead, Scott is hoping he gets an opportunity to swim for Carleton in his second year of studies, stick to his OYO swim club team commitment and work towards representing Canada at a future global paralympic competition.

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.