Competitive swimmer Emily Skulj will begin her studies in the CICE program at NC this Fall 2022 Term
2022 is a big year for 19-year-old Emily Skulj-Thompson.
Not only is the Thorold resident starting the Community Integration through Co-operative Education (CICE) program at Niagara College in September, but she will do so just a few weeks after competing in the Canada Summer Games.
Competing at the Eleanor Misener Aquatics Centre at Brock University, the Special Olympics athlete raced in the 50-metre freestyle, 100-metre freestyle, 50-metre backstroke, 100-metre backstroke and 50-metre breaststroke.
“I am very happy with my swims,” Skulj-Thompson said as the Games wrapped up. “I made finals in four out of five events while swimming personal best times in events like backstroke, [which] I don’t usually compete in.”
An avid swimmer for as long as she can remember, Skulj-Thompson said she started competing with Special Olympics at the age of eight. She is currently a member of St. Catharines Otters Swim Team with a number of provincial and national Special Olympic Games under her swim cap.
In 2018, she took home gold medals at the Ontario Special Olympics in the 25-, 50- and 100-metre breaststroke, and in the 50- and 100-metre freestyle. That same year she picked up silver and bronze medals in the same events when she competed at the national level.
On being selected to represent Ontario at the Games, she said, “I was excited and happy I was chosen.”
But even more meaningful were the people she met.
Making new friends from different provinces is what she’ll remember the most, she said, adding: “Opening ceremonies were amazing. It got us excited to compete. It was such a great time and experience.”
With the Canada Summer Games now over, Skulj-Thompson is taking a few weeks off before starting a new swim season and her first academic year at NC.
“[The] next season starts in September, [so] I have a small break before I start training,” she said.
And she’s looking forward to “meeting other new students, making new friends ad enjoying college life on campus” when classes start in September.
Skulj-Thompson aspires to complete the CICE program and work in the culinary field.
