SWIM | Ravens Para Swimmers Make History at OUA Championships

By Adam Coplan

The 2026 OUA Swimming Championships marked the first competition of its kind in which para-swimmers were able to score points for their schools in the team event. Held at the University of Toronto in late February, the competition marked a critical milestone in para-athlete inclusion featuring inspired performances from Carleton's para-swimmers, Nicholas Scott and Isabella (Bella) Alma.

Leading up to the competition weekend, the magnitude of what this achievement signified for the para-swimming community was not lost on Alma. "No one should have to fight for their right to be part of the team because of their disability," she stated. Bella spoke to the isolation that has historically come with being a para-swimmer but is hopeful that this new opportunity for para-swimmers to contribute meaningfully towards their team's success will "encourage more para-swimmers to join their teams and grow the competition."

Scott, whose 2026 OUA Championships would be his final big competition as a Raven, says he and Alma "have spoken many times about [their] desire to bring more awareness to para-sports […] and foster more inclusivity in the future." When reflecting on his fifteen-year swimming career, Nicholas professed that when it came to the OUA level, he often "wondered when the time would come that para-swimmers would be recognized." With this new chance to swim for his school and supplement his team with valuable points, he celebrates the graduation of no longer being seen as a "token swimmer."

Scott was born with a foot abnormality called Talipes Equinovarus, also known as clubfoot, which renders the kicking movement of swimming much more difficult. A graduate in social work, he is a product of the Ottawa Youth Olympians Swim Club. When asked about his personal goals before heading to Toronto, Nicholas wasn't too concerned about how quick his times would be or how many points he could score. His top priority going into his final race weekend as a Raven, in his own words? "I'm going to enjoy it."

At the competition, Scott, swam brilliantly in the 100-metre breaststroke, 100-metre butterfly, 100-metre backstroke, and 100-metre freestyle to score seven points for the Ravens. Once a representative of Team Ontario at the 2022 Canada Summer Games, Nicholas ended his OUA career with a strong swim in Toronto. However, most importantly for the graduating athlete, he "look[s] forward to the next generation of university para-swimmers having even more opportunities" than he was afforded.

Alma came into the competition "hoping to bring more exposure to para-swimming so [para-swimmers] don't need to keep defending [their] place in university swimming." She backed up her words by scoring six important points for the Ravens, competing in the 100-metre breaststroke, 400-metre and 50-metre freestyle, and 100m backstroke. Bella, who swims with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, admitted after the event that "getting to share the experience with the other para-swimmers brings a lot of community in a way you don't typically get with just able-bodied swimmers." Alma was thrilled to be able to score points for the Ravens for the first time and participate in the medal ceremonies – truly experiencing the fulfillment of being able to help her team succeed.

Outside of Carleton, Bella also trains with Swim Ottawa where she continues to further her career in para-swimming. She recently accepted an invitation to her first ever Swimming Canada training camp and will be competing in the Ontario Age Groups provincial competitions in early March. The second-year Global & International studies major from Kitchener will have many more opportunities to score points for the Ravens in the coming years.

With the Paralympic Winter Games in full-swing across the pond in Italy, para-swimmers continue to break barriers at the OUA level. Nicholas Scott and Isabella Alma represented the Ravens tremendously on the OUA Championship stage as first-time point-scorers in the para-swimming category.

Their dedication to continue to show up and be seen played a massive role in hitting this crucial benchmark in para-swimming inclusion and paves the way for future para-swimmers to take it even further.