Nicholas Bennett won his first world championship on Monday in England, taking out the 200 metre freestyle in the S14 category. (Paranation)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

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PARKSVILLE — The list of accolades for Nicholas Bennett continues to grow.

The 19-year-old Paralympian took to the water once more at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester, England, winning the S14 200 metre freestyle event in a time of 1:54.75.

It was Bennett’s first world championship gold medal and it comes after two silvers in the 2022 edition of the championships. He was overwhelmed with emotion after the race.

“You see I’m almost crying, I’m just filled with…it just feels amazing, I’m absolutely filled with ecstasy and just being completely ecstatic I was able to just come out on top.”

Bennett out-touched William Ellard of Great Britain by four one-hundredths of a second, while Jack Ireland of Australia claimed the bronze.

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He said the meet this week in England is part of his planned Paris 2024 Paralympic preparation.

Bennett is also contesting the 100-metre freestyle, finishing first in his heat on Tuesday, Aug. 2 in a race he called “fairly decent”.

The S14 category of paralympic swimming means competitors “have an intellectual impairment, which typically leads to the athletes having difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory, or having a slower reaction time” according to the International Paralympic Committee.

Bennett represented Canada at the Tokyo Paralympics, making three race finals.

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