Going to Dubai to swim in the world’s Special Olympics event in 2019 as part of Team Canada was an incredible experience for Emily MacTavish.
“When we got the call that she made it to worlds and she would go to Dubai, we were hesitant,” says her mom, Barb, also a coach with the Barriecudas Special Olympics swim team.
But Emily did go after having excelled at the provincials in freestyle and back crawl and then at the national competition. And through the support of her coaches not only did she have a good time in Dubai, she was a top performer, medalling in all three of her races.
She brought home a gold in the 4-by-50-metre medley relay, where she was the anchor swimmer. She also won silver in the 200-metre freestyle along with a bronze in the 100-metre.
“I liked hearing all sorts of different accents from around the world, meeting new people and making new connections,” she recalls, emphasizing the importance of good sportsmanship. “I usually say 'good game’ or high five with people.
“I like to make everyone feel good inside.”
MacTavish is being inducted into the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 2 along with late figure-skating coach Jo-Anne Eyers, rugby and basketball coach Steve Porter, ice-dance partners Mitch Islam and the late Alexandra Paul, and National Hockey League referee Dan Marouelli.
“I was really excited,” says MacTavish, who is 27 and enjoys the social aspect of Special Olympics.
She also has a competitive edge and looks forward to the races.
“Emily is a wonderful young lady,” says Barb. “She’s willing to try almost anything, she’s a very brave girl ... She didn’t walk until she was two and a half, but she took to the water really quickly — always, always loved it.”
Emily joined the Barriecudas when she was 14.
Her mom, who had been a lifeguard and swim instructor, has been a coach for the team, which usually numbers about a dozen swimmers.
The swim season is about to start, with weekly practices at the Allandale Recreation Centre — which also happens to be where the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame displays its inductee portraits — in the city's south end.
Emily also trains on her own with lane swimming and dryland activities, and seeks out instructional videos on YouTube.
Her mom credits the lifeguards at the Allandale facility with helping to support her when she goes lane swimming on her own and allowing her to build more connections.
When she’s not swimming, Emily goes downhill skiing every week with the Canadian Adaptive Snowsports during the winter, kayaks during the summer and enjoys walking.
She also works twice a week as a cleaner for the Barrie Kempettes Gymnastics Club and has been volunteering for nine years every week in the laundry room at the Bob Rumball Home For The Deaf.
“She’s an amazing little woman … (and) she’s a very upbeat person,” says Barb. “She teaches me things sometimes.”
Barb credits the Special Olympics organization for allowing Emily to meet new people and developing more connections and for being part of an active group. And that includes the opportunity to be inducted to the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame.
Emily and her mom had a chance to meet the other 2024 inductees and hear their stories at a kick-off event and are looking forward to the ceremony.
"It is very rewarding to have seen the Special Olympics athletes inducted into the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame alongside other athletes and sport leaders in the community,” says Hellaina Rothenburg, local program consultant for Special Olympics Ontario.
“For athletes like swimmer Emily MacTavish, representing Barrie and Canada on the international sporting stage is such an honour, and they are all so deserving of this recognition," Rothenburg adds.
MacTavish continues to train hard and has her eye out on the world competition once again.
“I’m working towards to it — it’s not going to be easy. I’m in the highest division possible, which will make it even more challenging for me,” she says.
Special Olympics operates on a four-year competition cycle with the nationals scheduled to be in Medicine Hat, Alta., in August 2026 and the worlds in Chile the following year.
The swim team’s season is just about to get underway and goes to the end of March. In-pool training is Wednesday evenings at the Allandale Recreation Centre, although some practices have had to be cancelled due to a lack of volunteers.
Barb is keen to hear from anyone interested in volunteering, experience isn’t necessary. Although she welcomes help from anyone with swim competition experience. Emily, for instance, would love to learn to compete in butterfly.
Anyone able to help out is encouraged to reach out to Rothenburg, who is also in search of a Special Olympics volunteer coordinator, by emailing her at [email protected].
