| Sport: | Paralympic swimming |
| Disability Class: | S3 |
| Club: | Saskatoon Lasers |
| Birth Date: | 19 October 1988 |
| Birth Place: | Vancouver, Canada |
| Height: | 185 cm |
Nikita Ens (born October 19, 1988) is a Canadian Paralympic swimmer who competes in international swimming competitions. She is a World silver medalist and has competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[1] [2]
Nikita Ens was born in 1988 to parents Rod and Monica Ens. She attended Carpenter High School and was a high school provincial champion in shot put in 2006.[3] [4] In 2010, she graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor of science in biology. She is pursuing a master’s degree in theological studies.[5]
After becoming paralyzed, Ens trained in track and field with the Saskatoon Cyclones. She was a medallist at the Canadian nationals. She made the standards for the Rio 2016 Paralympics but did not compete.[6]
Ens began para-swimming in 2017 and joined the Saskatoon Lasers Swim Club, training under Eric Kramer.[7] She made her major international debut at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, where she competed in the 100-metre freestyle S3, the 50-metre freestyle S4, the 50-metre backstroke S3, and the 150-metre individual medley SM4.[8] Going into Worlds, she held the Canadian records in S3 100-metre freestyle and 50-metre backstroke. She broke her record for the 100-metre freestyle S3 and qualified for two finals.
In June 2021, she competed in a para swimming World Series event in Germany, setting new personal best times in the 100-metre breaststroke SB2 and 200-metre freestyle S3. She made her Paralympic debut at the Tokyo Paralympics. She posted personal bests in all her races, but finished ninth in her heats the 50-metre backstroke S3 and the 100m freestyle S3 events, failing to post a top eight time to qualify for the finals.
She won a silver medal in the women's 200-metre freestyle S3 at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships. At the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships, Ens placed fifth in the women's 200-metre freestyle S3 and in the 50-metre backstroke SB2.[9] She will represent Canada at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Ens became a C5 paraplegic in February 2014 following a car crash with an impaired driver near Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.[10] [11]