Nicholas
Bennett

Since his breakthrough performance at the 2023 Para swimming World Championships, Nicholas Bennett has established himself among the world’s top Para swimmers.

It was at the 2024 Paralympic Games, the second of his career at age 20, Bennett stepped into the spotlight.

In Paris, he captured his first Paralympic medals, including gold in the 100-m breaststroke SB14 and 200 individual medley SM14 (Paralympic record: 2:06.05), as well as silver in the 200 freestyle S14 (Canadian record: 1:53.61).

Thanks to those performances, Bennett became the first Canadian male swimmer to win a Paralympic title since 2012, the first to win multiple gold medals at a single Paralympic Games since 2004, and the first to claim three medals since 2012.

He was the only Canadian Para swimmer to win two gold medals in Paris and he was named one of Canada’s two flag-bearers for the Closing Ceremony.

A year later at the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, the third of his career, Bennett claimed bronze medals in the men’s 200-m freestyle S14 and 200 individual medley. He also placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke.

At those worlds, Bennett became the third Canadian male Para swimmer to win multiple medals at three straight world championships, and the second to reach the podium in the same event at three straight worlds (in both the 200 free and 200 IM).

At the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester, Bennett won his first career world titles in the 200-metre freestyle and 200-metre individual medley. He also won a silver medal in the 100-metre breaststroke, setting a personal best time (and Americas record) of 1:04.41.

In 2023, he won his first career world titles with victories in the men’s 200 freestyle and 200 IM and added a silver medal in Manchester in the 100 breaststroke.

In 2022, he showed he was on the verge of stardom with silver in the 200 IM and 200 freestyle at the Madeira World Championships. That same year, he won the 200 free at the Commonwealth Games.

Bennett was one of Canada’s revelations in Para swimming at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima. At just 15, he won three gold medals and added a silver. At his first Paralympic Games in Tokyo, he reached three finals.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2020 and 2024 Paralympic Games… 2022, 2025 World Championships… 2019 Parapan American Games… Named Swimming Canada’s Revelation of the Year (Paralympic program) in 2021 and male athlete of the year (Para) for 2023…

PERSONAL

Diagnosed at the age of three with autism spectrum disorder… Coached by sister Haley Osborne, the head coach at the Swimming Canada High Performance Centre – Quebec where he is now based.

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

2025 World Championships 200m freestyle 3^rd

2025 World Championships 200m individual medley 3^rd

2024 Paralympic Games 100m breaststroke 1^st

2024 Paralympic Games 200m individual medley 1^st

2024 Paralympic Games 200m freestyle 2nd

2023 World Championships 200m freestyle 1st

2023 World Championships 100m freestyle 1st

2023 World Championships 100m breaststroke 2nd

2022 World championships 200m freestyle 2nd

2022 World Championships 100m freestyle 2nd

2021 Paralympic Games 100m breaststroke 5th

2021 Paralympic Games 200m freestyle 6th

2021 Paralympic Games 2021 200 IM 7th

2019 Parapan American Games 100m breaststroke 1st

2019 Parapan American Games 200m freestyle 1st

2019 Parapan American Games 200m INQ 1st

2019 Parapan American Games 100m butterfly 2nd