Emma Van Dyk of Brock Niagara Aquatics (BNA) has secured her place on the Canadian Paralympic team for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games in August.

Van Dyk, an S14 classified para-swimmer, was one of six swimmers from Brock Recreation’s competitive swim club to compete in the 2024 Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials in Scarborough from Monday, May 13 to Sunday, May 19.

While she showcased her talent and determination across multiple events, Van Dyk’s outstanding performance in the 100-metre backstroke preliminary race broke her own Canadian S14 Para Record and securing her ticket to Paris.

Van Dyk’s journey to the Paralympics has been supported by her coach, David Ling, who joined Brock Niagara Aquatics two years ago.

Her success story is also a testament to her early start in swimming, which she initially took up as a form of physiotherapy.

“Emma trains hard and can be very tough on herself,” Ling said. “Her performance at the Olympic Trials was the best she’s been since breaking her foot last spring, and it was right on time to punch her ticket to Paris.”

Ling also highlighted the importance of a strong support system in Van Dyk’s success.

“Emma requires a driven support system, and she has thrived with the BNA Diamond program, which trains fully integrated with the Brock Badgers varsity team,” he said. “Her goal was to make the Paris Paralympic team, and through a series of very high highs and low lows, she’s now broken the Canadian record in the S14 100m backstroke three times in the last two years.”

In addition to her backstroke victory, the 21-year-old from Port Colborne finished second in the 200m freestyle as well as fifth in the 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke, underscoring her versatility and speed in the pool.

Van Dyk’s achievements extend beyond the national trials. At the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, she won bronze in the 100m backstroke and placed sixth in the 200m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 100m butterfly. At the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira, she was part of the mixed 4×100m freestyle relay team that placed fourth and broke the Canadian record.

Outside the pool, she has a background in rowing, where she won a gold medal with her twin sister in junior doubles at the Ontario Championships.

Ling expressed profound emotion and pride following Van Dyk’s qualification, which is the first since former members Elisabeth Walker-Young and Tyler Emmett competed at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

“This is a fantastic validator for the program I’m trying to build,” he said. “Emma is our program’s first Paralympian since 2004, and represents the continued tradition of excellence in Brock swimming.”