Nikita Ens has always loved pushing her body. As a youngster she loved cycling and running. As a teen she competed in shot put for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and got into rock and ice climbing. So when she was in a car accident in her early 20s that left her a C5 paraplegic without the use of her legs, Ens spiralled into a dark place. But with the encouragement of her parents, she discovered a passion and talent for swimming.
Now 35, the Saskatoon athlete is in Paris this month competing in her second Paralympic Games with one goal: Swim fast.
As she wrapped up her final week of training before competition, Ens spoke with the Brainsport Times about her journey and lessons learned through sport.
Tell me about your life as an athlete before your car accident in 2014.
I’ve always been active. At age 12, my dad and I rode our bikes from Calgary to Vancouver. The day after high school grad, I joined the army and trained with them for a little bit. Then, while I was at the U of S, I competed with the Huskies in track and field. Before my last year of university, I biked across Canada from the Pacific to the Atlantic in 32 days.
After I graduated from the U of S, I worked in the Yukon for a while. The intention was to use my biology degree, but I ended up working at Tim Hortons. While I was there, I worked at Mountain Equipment Co-op and found a love for rock and ice climbing. I ran marathons with some friends.
How did you get involved with sport after your accident?
Some track athletes from the Saskatoon Cyclones came to City Hospital. There was an international athlete named Becky Richter and she connected with me in the hospital and introduced me to track.
In track and field I was performing well, but I depended so heavily on other people to help me get into the chair. I let that defeat me and, because of that, I quit.
My first reaction was to sit on the couch and eat all my feelings. My parents are so incredibly loving. They gently poked me with a stick and said: “You still have a body to use, even though it’s different. Don’t waste opportunities.”
The next day, mom took me to the pool and we met a coach on deck who connected me with the Saskatoon Lasers (Swim Club).
Tell me about getting into paraswimming.
After the car accident in 2014, the injury that caused the biggest handicap was a broken neck, so a spinal cord injury. Medically speaking, I’m a quadriplegic or tetraplegic, but I still have some minor flickers of muscles in the core and in the legs. In the water, it’s like all restraints are gone. It’s just a feeling of freedom in the water.
After every race, every practice, I either need a mechanical lift to get out of the pool, or my parents — they’ve been amazing — often they’re the ones at the pool deck lifting me out of the pool. I’m still quite heavily dependent on others, but this time around, you just have that dose of humility to say: OK, this is life now, just embrace that weakness. The opportunity is still there; don’t squander it because it’s humiliating. Well it’s not humiliating, but it’s not glorious.
Ever since I started swimming, it was like a redo. This time, I get another chance and I can press forward.
It’s been so inspiring to be on Team Canada. There are 20 swimmers on the team. Those people, they’re so inspiring. Our youngest athlete this year is 17 years old, and he’s missing a leg, and he says: “Girl, you just got to stop whining and feeling sorry for yourself. It is what it is. Now move forward.”
How did your background in athletics help with your physical and mental recovery from your accident?
I’ve had good coaching along the way. The lesson that applies to everyone, athlete or not, is that you’re going to meet challenges. It’s OK to mourn and process, but then — after a time — just decide what you’re going to do and proceed down that road.
What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned through sport?
There are many lessons about teamwork and camaraderie and encouraging each other and persevering through hard stuff, but another one is: Be a good steward of what you have because it won’t be here forever. Be careful with it and make the best use of what you have while you can.
Who are some of your role models in sport?
My dad — he’s been hardcore always. We were raised with discipline and we didn’t always understand it when we were young, but now it’s like: Thanks, dad. Looking back, it makes sense. He’s been through a lot and I admire him. I look up to him physically, mentally and spiritually in many regards. My mom too. Dad played hockey and he was a member of the emergency response team on the RCMP. And mom, she’s always played ball and she competes at the world championships every year. We’re an active family.
What else do you want people to know?
The Paralympic Games go from August 28 to September 8, so tune in. The best place in Canada to watch them live is on CBC Gem.
Shelby Newkirk and Hannah Ouellette are two other Saskatoon swimmers on Team Canada, and our coach, Ryan Jones with the Saskatoon Lasers, is here as well. So Saskatoon – represent!
Ens will compete in two events in the Paris Paralympics: the 50m backstroke S3 (Sept. 2) and 100m freestyle S3 (Sept. 3).
This interview has been edited and condensed.
