A Swift Current resident will be heading overseas next summer to compete in the World Special Olympics Summer Games.  

Swimmer Tyler Servant was announced as part of Team Canada last week, taking him to Berlin for Germany’s first time hosting the event in 2023.  

Joining him will be another local resident, Jackie Powell, as a head coach for Team Canada. 

“We both attended a qualifier along with lots of other athletes.” Powell explained. “From there, Special Olympics Canada took the results and took the best swimmer that they were able to identify for the criteria they were needing to fill, and Tyler was the lucky participant.” 

The 29-year-old athlete will be the first to represent Swift Current in the big event. 

Powell, who has been coaching for 35 years, has the chance to join the World Special Olympics Team Canada for the fifth time next summer, and the second time as a head coach.  

“It’s pretty special,” she said. “Until now, I’ve never had a local athlete be on the team with me. It’s going to be an amazing experience for Tyler, for our program, and just for the southwest because we’ve never had an athlete from this area attend a world competition before.” 

Servant described the feeling as overwhelming, but added that he’s excited and grateful that all of his hard work has paid off. 

“If I win, I probably would cry or be really happy, and call friends to show them my accomplishment,” he said. “And look for my mom in the audience.” 

The hard work isn’t over yet, though, as the swimmer faces many physical and mental training camps to prepare him for the big competition. 

An initial gathering is set for the middle of November, where Powell and Servant will get to meet the rest of Team Canada in person for the first time, and then regular sessions will occur virtually. 

Powell is looking forward to seeing Servant experience a new country and a new culture, as well as beating his personal bests, adding that while they’re going to Berlin to compete, it’s more than that.  

“It's a unique opportunity and I know Tyler is very excited and very driven to continue to do well in in swimming as well as the other sports he participates in,” the long-time coach said. “It’s going to be an incredible journey that we get to share together.”