Donovan Tildesley
Birthdate: June 24, 1984
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Residence: Vancouver, BC
Club: Pacific Dolphins Swim Club
Coach: Derrick Schoof
Classification: S11
Event(s): 100 free, 100 Back, 100 Fly, 200 IM
Donovan Tildesley qualified for his fourth Paralympic Games this past spring and is one of Canada’s most successful para-swimmers of all time. Tildesley holds the world record in the men’s 800m freestyle and 1500m freestyle in the S11 disability category for swimmers with a visual impairment.
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Tildesley’s career highlights include five gold and one silver medal at the 2002 IPC World Championships, five gold medals at the 2007 Parapan American Games, one bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, two silvers and one bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, and a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
He was also Canada’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony in Beijing.
Tildesley graduated in English literature from the University of British Columbia in 1988 and now works as an insurance broker for Buntain Insurance Agencies in Vancouver. He has also ventured recently into the world of stand-up comedy and continues his career as a motivational speaker.
Born with a condition known as Leiber’s Amaurosis, Tildesley races in the S11 category, for totally blind swimmers. He started racing in 1993 and was coached by his father, Dr. Hugh Tildesley, a former competitive swimmer with assistance from his uncle, Murray Tildesley, a former national record holder.
Check out Donovan’s profile on the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s website.
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