Cape Breton’s own Sophie Hunter is about to make a big splash on the national stage.

Sophie has been selected to represent Nova Scotia as part of the provincial swim team at the 2025 Canada Summer Games, taking place August 8–25 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. A member of the Cape Breton Dorados Swim Team, Sophie is the first Dorado swimmer since the 1990s to earn this honour—a testament to her incredible talent and dedication.

Sophie’s journey to the Canada Games is the result of relentless commitment and unshakable determination. She began swimming at just five years old and now trains nine sessions a week, totaling 16 hours in the pool. But it doesn’t stop there. She also participates in:

• Core Camp workouts three times a week before practice—20-minute sessions focused on strength and stability,

• Weight training at the gym 3–4 days per week, and

• High-performance dryland training at CBU up to twice weekly, including plyometrics, calisthenics, and more.

It’s a schedule most adults would find overwhelming, and somehow she’s also finding time to study for her driver’s license—a milestone she’s been eagerly anticipating.

And if that’s not enough to impress you, Sophie is also an award-winning innovator. For her high school science fair project, she designed and built a robotic pacing device that travels along a swim lane to help solo swimmers maintain pace during training. Her invention earned her a Bronze Medal at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, where she competed against 400 of the country’s brightest young minds.

“She’s worked very hard, and now she’s ready to rock,” says Dan MacKinnon, Head Coach of the Cape Breton Dorados. “We’re all very proud. Best of luck, Sophie!”

Sophie will be competing in the 50m and 100m freestyle events, as well as the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke, and possibly a relay. She’s part of a 24-member team representing Nova Scotia, and will be among 4,000 athletes from across the country participating in 19 different sports at the Canada Games.

To follow Sophie’s progress and cheer her on, visit www.canadagames.ca, where you can find schedules and livestreams of the events.

Sophie’s story is one of perseverance, passion, and excellence—both in and out of the pool. She represents the very best of Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, and we’ll all be cheering her on as she dives into this exciting new chapter.

Let’s go, Soph!

For more information about the Cape Breton Dorados Swim Team, check out their Facebook page