Nicolaas Dekker is a typical teen of few words. If his goals are realized over the next few years, that's about to change in a big way.
The Richmond Rapids Swim Club member is fresh off an outstanding season that concluded by representing his country at the recent North American Challenge Cup in Edmonton.
The annual event features Canada's up and-coming swimmers against Mexico and three U.S. regional teams. The soon-to-be Grade 12 student at McMath secondary school more than held his own, winning the 100 and 200 metre butterfly races.
The 100 was in a club record time of 56.42. His initial 50 metre split of 26.94 was also a new club mark. The 200 victory eclipsed his previous personal best (PB) by almost two seconds.
He would later add a fifth place result in the 100m breaststroke, with another PB time, and was a member of the gold medal winning 4x100 medley relay team with an outstanding butterfly leg.
Dekker thrived in the international environment and the plan is for many more high profile meets over the next three years that will determine if he is a legitimate candidate to represent Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
There are other intangibles that he is also working on.
"Getting him comfortable with the media is all part of the process," chuckled Rapids head coach Rob Pettifer. "Nic is part of a large group of young athletes across the country that are the future in Canadian swimming. There is a lot of pride that comes with representing your country and developing into a role model too."
Dekker didn't have to look too far to realize where his swimming career might be taking him. If swimming for Canada in front of a large crowd wasn't inspiring enough, all he had to do was turn on the TV to watch national team stars Ryan Cochrane and Brent Hayden reach the podium at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. The swimming competition in London happened to take place the same time he was in Edmonton.
"It was really motivating," he said of the London Games. "It's goal setting that keeps me going as a swimmer and that's the ultimate goal where everyone wants to be.
"There was a lot of cheering (at the Edmonton meet) and it was something I really wasn't used to. You can really hear it and it keeps pushing you even when you're hurting a bit (at the end of a race)."
It was some outstanding swims during the short course season that earned Dekker's spot on the Canadian team. Although he is dominant in the butterfly, he is far too young to be specializing in any stroke.
"We mix it up because you want your swimmers to be very much well-rounded," explained Pettifer. "Nic is a nationally ranked butterfly swimmer but he spends equal time with other strokes. He is a good swimmer right now but we still don't know what he is going to be great in. You want kids to have options because you don't know what the depth (at the national level) is going to be for each stroke."
Dealing with teenage swimmers in Pettifer's competitive program, means lots of growth spurts that can temporary stall improvement. Dekker is no exception.
His year got off to a terrific start then he sprouted a couple of inches. It meant a notso-dominant long course season but he has found his form again, as was evident with his performance in Edmonton.
"It was at the point where he was holding on for dear life," said Pettifer of Dekker's growth phase. "He was seeing swimmers that I know he could beat once he got through it. He had a great meet in Edmonton and there is still a lot more there (for improvement). Really, he is just scratching the surface of his potential."
Dekker's swimming career began with the Richmond Kigoos summer program when he was just seven. Making the bigger commitment with the Rapids at first was only about following his friends than taking swimming more seriously. He enjoyed modest success up until about three years ago when his stock began to soar.
"Nic was always a good swimmer but not a standout or superstar," added Pettifer. "Sometimes he would medal and sometimes he wouldn't. He achieved national times when he was 13 but it was more about being a participant than a competitor. By the time he was 15, he had matured and began to take steps towards being a player on the national stage.
"With boys, that's how it tends to be." Deeker's off-season consisted of exactly two weeks. He will soon be back in the water when the Rapids launch their 2012-13 competitive campaign at the Steveston Outdoor Pool until early October before shifting their train back to their regular home at Watermania.
