Nikita’s Bio

• At the 2023 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials in Toronto, Ens claimed four multi-class medals, including gold in the women’s 50-m breaststroke and 50 backstroke, silver in the 150 individual medley and bronze in the 200 freestyle. Her performance qualified her for the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships team in Manchester, England.
• At the season-opening meet of the 2023 Citi Para Swimming World Series in Melbourne, Australia, in February, Ens lowered her own national record in each of her four events, including the women’s 50-m breaststroke SB2, 50 freestyle S3, 100 free S3 and 150 individual medley SM3. She claimed silver in the 150 IM.
• At the Regina Winter Classic, she set two Canadian records in the 100-m breastroke SB2 (3:29.40).
• At the Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships, Ens captured silver in the 200-m freestyle S3. She placed 4^th in the 50-m backstroke S3 and broke the Canadian record. She also placed 5^th in both the 50-m breaststroke SB2 and the 150-m individual medley SM3, 6^th in the 100-m freestyle S3, and 7^th in the 200-m freestyle S4.
• At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Nikita Ens finished ninth in the 50-m backstroke S3 and 100-m freestyle S3 both in personal best times. Ens also placed 17^th in the women’s 150-m individual medley SM4 and set a Canadian record in the SM3 sport class.
• At the London 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, Ens reached two finals in four individual events, including the 100-m freestyle S3 (8^th) and 50-m backstroke S3, and lowered her own Canadian S3 record in the preliminaries of the 100 free. Making her first career appearance at worlds, she also competed in the 150-m individual medley SM4 (13^th) and 50-m freestyle S4 (19^th).
• At the 2019 Canadian Swimming Championships in Winnipeg, Ens set a pair of S3 Canadian records in the 100-m freestyle and 50-m backstroke.
• Over a three-month period following the 2019 Canadian Trials, Ens shattered five of her own national records, including the 50-m backstroke S3 and the 100-m breaststroke SB3 at the Lasers Invitational and Novice Saskatoon in May, the 100-m freestyle S3 at the Ontario Summer Championships in June, as well as the 50-m freestyle S3 and 100-m backstroke S3 at the ManSask Provincial Championships in July.
• Ens broke the Canadian record in the 150-m IM SM3 and won a multi-class gold medal in the 50-m backstroke at the 2022 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials. Her performances qualified her for the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships.
• At the 2019 Canadian Swimming Trials in Toronto, Ens set Canadian records in both the 50-m freestyle S3 and 150-m individual medley SM3 and also posted personal-best times in the 100-m freestyle and 50-m breaststroke. She finished the meet with a trio of multi-class medals, including gold in the 50-m breaststroke, silver in the 150-m individual medley and bronze in the 50-m backstroke.
• When she was 25-years-old, prior to a car accident that left her a C5 paraplegic, Ens cycled across Canada in 32 days.

QUICK FACTS

• Favourite movie: The Count of Monte Cristo
• Favourite TV Show: Corner Gas
• Favourite book: The Bible
• Music behind the blocks: Grits
• Pre-race meal: Tuna