Nikita Ens
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | October 19, 1988 Vancouver, Canada | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||
| Sport | Paralympic swimming | ||||||||||||||
| Disability class | S3 | ||||||||||||||
| Club | Saskatoon Lasers | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Nikita Ens (born October 19, 1988) is a Canadian Paralympic swimmer who competes in international swimming competitions. She is a World silver medallist and has competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[1][2]
Early life and education
Nikita Ens was born in 1988 to parents Rod and Monica Ens. She attended Carpenter High School and was a high school provincial champion in shot put in 2006.[3][4] In 2010, she graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor of science in biology. She is pursuing a master’s degree in theological studies.[5]
Career
After becoming paralyzed, Ens trained in track and field with the Saskatoon Cyclones. She was a medallist at the Canadian nationals.[5] She made the standards for the Rio 2016 Paralympics but did not compete.[6]
Ens began para-swimming in 2017 and joined the Saskatoon Lasers Swim Club, training under Eric Kramer.[6][7] She made her major international debut at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, where she competed in the 100-metre freestyle S3, the 50-metre freestyle S4, the 50-metre backstroke S3, and the 150-metre individual medley SM4.[8] Going into Worlds, she held the Canadian records in S3 100-metre freestyle and 50-metre backstroke.[7] She broke her record for the 100-metre freestyle S3 and qualified for two finals.[6]
In June 2021, she competed in a para swimming World Series event in Germany, setting new personal best times in the 100-metre breaststroke SB2 and 200-metre freestyle S3.[6] She made her Paralympic debut at the Tokyo Paralympics. She posted personal bests in all her races, but finished ninth in her heats the 50-metre backstroke S3 and the 100m freestyle S3 events, failing to post a top eight time to qualify for the finals.[5]
She won a silver medal in the women's 200-metre freestyle S3 at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships.[3] At the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships, Ens placed fifth in the women's 200-metre freestyle S3 and in the 50-metre backstroke SB2.[9] She will represent Canada at the 2024 Paralympic Games.[4]
Personal life
Ens became a C5 paraplegic in February 2014 following a car crash with an impaired driver near Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.[10][11]
References
- ^ "Nikita Ens - Canadian Paralympic Committee". Canadian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ "Nikita Ens - Swimming Canada". Swimming Canada. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Ambroziak, Phil (June 23, 2022). "Former M.L. athlete takes silver at Para Swimming worlds". Northern Pride. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Lehmann, Logan (June 24, 2024). "Meadow Lake swimmer set to don maple leaf at Paris 2024 Paralympics". saskNOW. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c Shewaga, James (July 24, 2024). "PATH TO PARIS: A second chance in France for USask alum Ens". USask News. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Flaherty, Ryan (August 26, 2021). "Father's 'kick in the butt' set Nikita Ens on path to Tokyo Paralympics". Global News. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b "Para swimmer Nikita Ens and her mom share equal admiration for each other". Canadian Paralympic Committee. May 8, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Holder, Bronwen (August 27, 2021). "PREVIEW: Tammy Cunnington and Nikita Ens in Paralympic women's swimming". The Toronto Observer. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ "Canada's Rivard successfully defends 100m freestyle title at Para swimming worlds". CBC. August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ "Athlete sets swim records". Northern Pride. August 9, 2018.
- ^ Roblin, Scott (August 16, 2023). "Meadow Lake swimmer Nikita Ens on track for second Paralympics". CBC. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
External links
- Nikita Ens at Swimrankings.net
- Nikita Ens at Swimming Canada
- Nikita Ens at the Canadian Paralympic Committee
- Nikita Ens at the International Paralympic Committee