Nathan Stein, from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, built a 20‑year swimming career defined by resilience, adaptability, and the people who supported him along the way. He began his journey with the BC Summer Swimming Association (BCSSA) before transitioning into year‑round swimming, gaining experience with Simon Fraser Aquatics and the Haney Seahorse Swim Club (now Ridge Meadows Swim Club), before ultimately finding a long‑term home with the Surrey Knights Swim Club.Throughout his career, Stein was influenced by a number of respected coaches, including Stu Don Caroll, Wendy Lim, Liam Leyland, and Dmitry Kononenko. Each played a role in developing his understanding of the sport, work ethic, and self-confidence. The most significant impact came from his longtime coach, Reg Shaw from the Surrey Knights Swim Club.Early in his athletic career, Stein faced a significant setback after breaking his knee playing football at age 11. He was later diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans, a bone deficiency in the knee that required multiple surgeries and ultimately reshaping his path in sport. The diagnosis forced him to reconsider his future, but it also opened the door to Paralympic swimming.Among his early highlights, Stein represented Team BC at the West Coast Championships in Richmond BC, marking his first experience on a provincial team.Another defining moment was breaking a BCSSA 100m freestyle record previously held by Olympic champion Brent Hayden, and later by swimmer Mike Westwick, before Stein surpassed it the following year.On the international stage:2012 Paralympic Games:2nd – S10 Men’s 50m Freestyle LCM2014 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships:1st – S10 Men’s 100m Butterfly LCM2nd – S10 Men’s 100m Freestyle LCM2015 IPC World Championships:3rd – S10 Men’s 50m Freestyle LCM3rd – S10 Men’s 100m Freestyle LCM2015 Parapan American Games:2nd – S10 Men’s 100m Butterfly LCM2nd – S34 Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay LCM3rd – S10 Men’s 100m Freestyle LCM3rd – S10 Men’s 50m Freestyle LCM2016 Paralympic Games:5th – S10 Men’s 100m Butterfly LCM5th – S10 Men’s 50m Freestyle LCMStein reflected on his personal experience of facing setbacks during the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Leading up to the Games, he underwent what he described as the most focused training period of his life.Unfortunately, a back injury sustained just days before the competition significantly affected his performance, although he did not achieve the desired results. He emphasizes how the process leading up to the Games is one that has had the most defining impact on his life.Stein retired from competitive swimming following the 2016 Rio Paralympics. His transition out of sport was emotionally challenging, as swimming had been a central part of his identity. He applied the same lessons, focus, and determination cultivated in training to his personal and professional life.Today, Stein reflects on his journey with a deep sense of gratitude.He credits swimming with providing the foundation for his success, including the discipline, structure, and perspective that has shaped his life. He is now focused on his family and career and describes himself as being in the best place he has ever been.
Willem Hergesheimer’s swimming journey in British Columbia reflects both a deep commitment to the sport and a lasting appreciation for the community around it. He competed from 1998 to 2010 with several clubs across the province, including the Bulkley Valley Otters, Nanaimo Riptides, Ravensong, Langley Olympians (now Olympians Swimming), Langley Flippers Summer Club, and the Spartan Swim Club. In 2021, he returned to the sport as a coach, continuing to give back to the swimming community.
Some of Hergesheimer’s favourite moments include medaling at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival and representing Team BC at events such as the Western Canada Summer Games, Age Group Championships, and the Paul Bergen International. While these achievements marked important milestones, it was the broader experience of representing his province and country that left the strongest impression; building friendships, learning from others, and experiencing different cultures through sport.
Throughout his career, Hergesheimer was shaped by the many coaches and teammates he encountered. Swimming provided him with a strong sense of structure and resilience, teaching him to view setbacks as opportunities for growth. Those lessons have remained central to his life beyond the pool, guiding how he approaches challenges and personal development.
Since stepping away from competitive swimming, Hergesheimer has embraced the sense of exploration the sport inspired in him. He has travelled extensively, lived overseas, and continues to pursue new experiences around the world.
Now back on deck as a coach, he remains connected to the sport and its community. His perspective has shifted from performance to people, recognizing that what matters most are not the results, but the shared moments, conversations on deck, time between races, and the experiences that bring teammates together. Hergesheimer hopes to give back to the BC swimming community that played such a significant role in shaping his journey.
The legacy of swimming in British Columbia begins with you; whether you competed on the world stage or dove in with your local club, you are an essential part of our province’s story. This year, we are taking meaningful steps to reconnect with our roots through the BC Swimming Legacy, an initiative dedicated to uncovering the key moments and individuals whose dedication shaped the sport we love.
We believe that the stories of those who built this community should not only be preserved but celebrated as they continue to inspire the next generation of swimmer today. A central part of this journey is the launch of the BC Swimming Alumni Network, a space created to honour the athletes, coaches, and leaders who have built our community over the decades. If you ever swam or coached for a club in British Columbia, whether you represented your local community, your university, or your country, you are a BC Swimming alumnus, and your contributions have played a vital role in our shared success. In the coming days, we will begin sharing alumni profiles that highlight these defining stories, and we invite you to officially join the network through this link to stay connected with the sport that remains a part of who you are.
The Swim BC office will be closed on Good Friday (April 3) and Easter Monday (April 6). We extend our warm wishes to those celebrating and hope everyone enjoys a restful long weekend.
We are seeking a paid Event and Administration Intern to join our team at the Swim BC office in Victoria, BC. This opportunity is intended for current post-secondary students and provides hands-on experience in sport governance, event delivery, athlete services, and organizational operations.
The intern will work closely with Swim BC staff and gain exposure to multiple areas of sport management, including competitions, communications, and membership services. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in careers in sport management, event management, sport governance, or non-profit administration.
Application Deadline: April 8, 2026, 4:00 PM (PT)
Expected Start Date: May 4, 2026
Location: 305-4420 Chatterton Way, Victoria, BC V8X 5J2
For more information and the application process, please click HERE!
