From Gold Medalist to Groundbreaker: Special Olympics athlete Tyler Servant’s Canada Games Coaching Debut Celebrated During National Coaches Week
When Tyler Servant walked onto the pool deck at the 2025 Canada Games in St. John’s as part of Team Saskatchewan’s coaching staff, each familiar face greeted him with the same question: “Tyler—what are you doing here?”
It was a fair question. For more than a decade, the Special Olympics athlete had been known as a competitor, not a coach. A Canada Games alumni and a gold-medal swimmer on the world stage, he had built his reputation in the water. But this time, his answer carried the spark of something bigger—because he wasn’t just returning in a new role. Tyler had become the first Special Olympics athlete to serve on a Canada Games coaching staff as a Participant Assistant.
That belief has carried Tyler from his first strokes in the pool to the world stage. Under longtime coach Jackie Powell in Swift Current, he grew into one of Saskatchewan’s strongest swimmers, eventually earning a spot on Special Olympics Team Canada. At the 2023 World Games in Berlin, Tyler struck gold in the 4x50m medley relay while Jackie stood proudly on the pool deck. For both, it was the ultimate reward after years of commitment—a shared moment neither will forget.
For swimmer Tate Zimmerman, one of the Special Olympics athletes Tyler supported in St. John’s, his presence was invaluable. “He knows us and pushes us without being scary,” Tate said. “I did more this week—left my room, traded pins with other teams, talked to people—because I felt comfortable. We’ve always respected Tyler. Seeing him in this role didn’t feel like a big jump; it felt right.”
That’s exactly the point for Tyler. “People need to see it,” he said, getting emotional. “When athletes of all different abilities see me in a role like this, they think, ‘I can do that.’ Maybe like me, they never considered applying. Now the barrier is lower because the example is right in front of them. Sometimes it’s hard to get over the imposter syndrome of it and feel confident that I’m right for this, but athletes like Tate saying that I’ve changed their experience is changing how I see myself. And I want them to know that if I can do it, so can they.”
He doesn’t hold back about the role Special Olympics has played in his life. “When I first joined, I didn’t know how to swim,” he said. “Special O gave me a place I could be me, and people accepted and helped me. I suffer from anxiety; noise can be hard. Without the skills I learned—on boards, in programs—I don’t know if I’d have the job I have now or the confidence to sit here and share my story. Special O gave me my voice, my personality—everything. And if it wasn’t for coach Jackie, I wouldn’t be here. She’s been my guardian angel for the last ten years.”
Jackie has been by Tyler’s side for nearly his entire decade long Special Olympics career. She watched him go from a shy teenager who didn’t know how to swim to a confident athlete who inspires his peers. And at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, she noticed something beyond his performance in the pool: the way he carried himself outside of it. Tyler was the athlete who picked up teammates after tough races, the one who encouraged with humour, the steady voice who lifted the room when nerves were high.
“Whether he realizes it or not, he’s always been a leader,” Jackie said.
That leadership became the spark for what came next. When the opportunity arose to join Team Saskatchewan’s coaching staff at the 2025 Canada Summer Games, it was Jackie who encouraged Tyler to apply. He returned not as a competitor but as a Participant Assistant for Special Olympics swimming—the first time in history a Special Olympics athlete had held such a role at a Canada Games. It was a milestone moment, one that opened the door for many more athletes to see themselves in the same role.
“I never thought coaching was an option for me either. But when Jackie believed in me, I believed I could. Now other athletes are starting to believe the same thing.”
The transition wasn’t instant. “At first there was more of a peer dynamic,” Jackie explained, also serving as Head Coach for Special Olympics swimming in St. John’s. “A training camp before the Games helped reset that. The athletes realized Tyler wasn’t competing with them—he was there to support them. That shift made a big difference.”
Soon, Tyler’s impact could be felt across Team Saskatchewan. Familiar faces from past meets eased nerves, while new colleagues took notice of his impact. “One coach made a point to tell me, ‘Tyler’s got great energy—I hope he applies again,’” Jackie said. “That matters.”
The experience has given him a new set of goals for the future. “I’d love to follow in Jackie’s footsteps into a full coaching role one day,” he admitted. “But I’m not ready yet. This role has been huge for me, and I want to do it a few more times, learn as much as I can, and keep growing. It’s like climbing a ladder—you start with small steps, and one day you’re at the top. Right now, I’m learning what it takes to be a coach by watching and listening. It’s all about the athletes. They’ve done the work. I’m just here to support.”
For Jackie, who has coached at more than 30 multi-sport Games across different levels and streams, the greatest pride comes from seeing athletes she supports build the confidence and skills to embrace every opportunity—both in sport and in life. To other athletes considering a transition into coaching or support roles, her advice is simple: “The best thing you can do is start in your community. Volunteer in a program, take the courses, build your confidence. And find a mentor—share your dreams with someone who can help you get there. That’s what Tyler did, and I couldn’t be more proud that he’s now inspiring others to do the same.”
Tyler still reflects on just how far sport has taken him. “When I started, I didn’t even know how to swim,” he said. “Now I’ve competed at the World Games, won a gold medal, and I’m helping other athletes chase their goals. Special O changed everything for me. It gave me confidence, purpose, and community. And it gave me Jackie.”
During National Coaches Week, their story is a reminder of the ripple effect of mentorship. Jackie gave Tyler the belief to pursue something he never thought possible. Tyler, in turn, has broken barriers for athletes across the country by stepping into a role no Special Olympics athlete had ever held before—knowing he won’t be the last.