Donovan Tildesley

{{Infobox swimmer

| name =Donovan Tildesley

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| fullname =

| nicknames = Big D

| nationality = Canadian

| strokes = Medley
Freestyle
Butterfly

| club =

| collegeteam = University of British Columbia Dolphins

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|7|24}}

| birth_place = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{convert|166|cm|ft}}

| weight = {{convert|62|kg|lb}}

| medaltemplates =

}}

Donovan Tildesley (born July 24, 1984) is a retired blind Canadian swimmer. He was the flag bearer of Canada at the 2008 Paralympic Games.{{cite news |title=Paralympics open in Beijing |url=http://sports.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/abc/News/ContentPosting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CBC-SPORTS-V3&showbyline=True&newsitemid=paralympics-ceremony |work=CBC News |publisher=Sympatico |date=2008-09-06 |accessdate=2008-09-06}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Swimming career

He started swimming at the age of nine.{{cite journal | first = Donovan | last = Tildesley | title = Biography-Donovan Tildesley | publisher = Yellowknife Polar Bear Swim Club | url = http://www.ykpbsc.nt.ca/_nwt_swimming/games/swimmer_donovan_tildesley_bio.pdf | accessdate = 2008-08-05}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Until 2000, he had swum in many provincial and national competitions, setting many Canadian records.

He is the current world record holder for the 800-metre freestyle{{cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1353057/canadian-paralympic-committee-congratulates-four-time-paralympic-swimmer-donovan-tildesley-on-retirement | title=Canadian Paralympic Committee congratulates four-time Paralympic swimmer Donovan Tildesley on retirement |publisher=Newswire.ca | accessdate = 2014-05-09}} and the 1500-metre freestyle.

Personal life and education

Tildesley graduated from the University of British Columbia in spring 2008 with an English degree{{cite web |last=Lin |first=Brian |date=2008-09-04 |title=Tap and Rope Guide Swimmer to Victory |url=http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubcreports/2008/08jul03/swimmer.html?src=ubcca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521100047/http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubcreports/2008/08jul03/swimmer.html?src=ubcca |archive-date=2011-05-21 |accessdate=2008-09-05 |publisher=University of British Columbia}} Donovan works full-time as an insurance broker for Buntain Insurance Agencies in Vancouver.{{Cite news |last=Tildesley |first=Donovan |date=May 6, 2021 |title=Vaccine must be prioritized for legally blind British Columbians |work=The Squamish Reporter |url=https://www.squamishreporter.com/2021/05/06/vaccine-must-be-prioritized-for-legally-blind-british-columbians/ |access-date=November 18, 2022}} He also does public speaking and is a co-owner of a small radio station in Whistler, British Columbia. In May 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Tildesley advocated for blind British Columbians to be given vaccine priority similar to vulnerable groups with other medical conditions. Donovan is also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and is currently contracted with Virgin Cruise Lines as an Accessibility Consultant. In 2024, Tildesley portrayed a blind veteran and lent his voice for the end narration of a Heritage Minute honouring Edwin Baker.{{cite web |last1=W Group |first1=CN |title=New Heritage Minute Celebrates Edwin Baker |url=https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/heritage-minute-celebrates-edwin-baker-143300585.html |publisher=Yahoo |access-date=6 December 2024}}

References

External links

[http://www.paralympic.ca/page?a=238&lang=en-CA&profileId=37958&view=summary His profile] at the [http://www.paralympic.ca/page?a=237&lang=en-CA Canadian Paralympic Committee]

Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:Paralympic swimmers for Canada

Category:Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Paralympics

Category:Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Paralympics

Category:Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Paralympics

Category:Paralympic silver medalists for Canada

Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Canada

Category:Swimmers from Vancouver

Category:World record holders in paralympic swimming

Category:Paralympic swimmers with a vision impairment

Category:University of British Columbia alumni