Mighty Barracuda Olympic Trials Spotlight: Jordan Schaepper

Mighty Barracuda Olympic Trials Spotlight: Jordan Schaepper
Saturday, May 11, 2024

Swimmer: Jordan Schaepper
Age: 17
Current Grade: 11
School: John McCrae Secondary School

Years Swimming:  8 years, the Mightiest 3 of which have been as a Barracuda!
Events at Olympic Trials: 200 FR, 400 FR, 800 FR, 1500 FR, 100 FLY, 200 FLY, 200 IM, 400 IM

Pre-Race Routine: Listen to music and talk to my teammates and friends
Best Pump Up Playlists: 1989 and Reputation by Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, or Cardi B.  Anything upbeat and loud
Favourite Food: Lone Star Fajitas, and animal crackers or dried mangos on deck
What he does when a race doesn’t go as planned: Teammates are the best support network, so turn to them when you’re frustrated with a race.  Then focus on what's next.

If he could give advice to his 10 year old self, what would it be? If you have fun and work hard, you will accomplish your goals.


In a land far, far away, there once was a boy…. Okay, well not that far away but the drive from Arnprior into the Sportsplex can feel pretty far at 4:30 in the morning!  And it wasn’t a boy that lived there, but rather one of the Mightiest Barracudas, Jordan Schaepper!  Jordan’s aquatic journey is one that is all about distance, and going the distance, to achieve great success.

Despite starting swimming simply because he liked the water, Jordan soon realized he had a natural talent for the sport. Add in his determined attitude, infectious charisma, and welcoming smile, and Jordan quickly found himself to be the one making waves not only in the water, but also in the hearts of everyone around him. He is known for his kind nature, his encouraging words, and his unwavering dedication to his passions.

Jordan knows success isn’t a stroke of luck. He is a goal-oriented and dedicated athlete who is willing to put in the time, lots of time. Not a surprising attribute, and clearly a necessary one, considering he is a fan of swimming the 10K open water race! He knows that achieving his goals requires deliberate intention, hard work, time management, and self-belief. Moreover, Jordan is meticulous with his training, showing up for every practice session and prioritizing enough rest to ensure his body is ready to perform at its best.

Jordan's journey as a distance swimmer takes him far and wide as he finds himself traveling across North America and the Caribbean already, and his sights are locked on further reaching international competitions. He’s represented Swim Ontario at multiple tour events, including Quebec Cup out east and the Mel Zajac Junior International out west.  He’s skills in 800s and 1500s has lead to him being selected by Swim Canada to train in Florida, and his all around prowess across the events has earned him his spot in Canadian and American national competitions as far reaching as the Grand Caymans.  (Remember that 10K open water mentioned above?  He got to do it with turtles and stingrays racing below on the sea floor!  Hard work sure has a good view!) Jordan took his biggest step into the international swim scene when he earned an invite to the 2022 World Cup hosted in Toronto, and has only looked up since. 

In speaking to what keeps swimming enjoyable, not just challenging, Jordan quickly nods to two things - these opportunities that it has given him to travel, and as we’re sure you’ve seen is the common thread to all our national level athletes, his teammates and friends all along the way! “Friends on tour teams and at camps that I've met and get to see at meets, the opportunities it's given me to travel, seeing hard work pay off,” are all what make swimming fun. He speaks enthusiastically about the shared experiences of traveling as a team, whether it's with NKB or Team Ontario or at an SNC training camp. Yet, nothing quite compares to the electric atmosphere the Barracudas create on deck!  The team spirit is second to none, and Jordan can regularly be found at the heart of it. 

As Jordan continues to chase his dreams he also has a constant source of support from his family.  All those hours of driving to and from practice and the days spent traveling far and wide would be impossible without.  “Jordan has always been a hard worker, very goal oriented and is always looking to improve himself. He never complains about the early mornings or the long days. Swimming is his passion!  We are thankful to be part of NKB and for the support they give to athletes at all levels and love the amazing team spirit! We are proud of everything Jordan has accomplished so far and are excited to see what the future brings.’
 

Jordan, your love for the water and unwavering commitment to being the best swimmer you can be is irrefutable.  You lead by example and possess a flair for team spirit that buoys all of our Barracudas.  We can’t wait to see what lies ahead for you, and are eager to follow in your footsteps. 




Stay tuned to your email for daily stories of our athletes as we approach the 2024 Bell Canadian Olympic Trials, or visit the News section of the  NKB Swimming website for current and past stories.