ENFIELD: Two athletes with the Sackville-Bedford Bravehearts returned home from the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, Alta., with an impressive haul of medals, and one of them left the Games as Nova Scotia’s most decorated athlete.
The national Summer Games, held Aug. 11-15, brought together athletes from across Canada in 10 sports.
Team Nova Scotia was represented by 79 athletes, along with 37 coaches and mission staff.
Among those athletes were Enfield-area swimmer Dylan Balmaceda and athletics competitor Jacob Rafuse, both representing the Sackville-Bedford Bravehearts.
Balmaceda had a remarkable Games, winning four gold, two silver and two bronze medals — eight medals in all. The performance made him Special Olympics Nova Scotia’s most decorated athlete at the 2026 Summer Games.
He competed in eight swimming events: the 400-metre freestyle, 200m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 4x25m freestyle relay, 4x50m medley relay, 4x50m freestyle relay and 4x100m freestyle relay. He earned a medal in every event.
There were many other local athletes that won medals as well, with a team or individually (we can’t list/do a story on them all).
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For Balmaceda, the medals were a reflection of the work that went into preparing for the Games.
“My thoughts on winning the medals I wanted are that it shows other people who are interested in a sport what effort, sportsmanship and practice can do,” he said. “You put in the work and then compete against others to see where you can place.”
His favourite individual event was the 200m freestyle, where he wanted to demonstrate the work he had put into training while also chasing personal-best times.
The relays provided another highlight, particularly the 4x25m freestyle relay.
“That was a big highlight because we had a really fast swim and I think we may have set a Special Olympics record,” Balmaceda said.
Away from the pool, Balmaceda said the Games were about much more than competition. He enjoyed meeting athletes from other provinces, making new friends and trading pins and Jibbitz.
His father, East Hants RCMP S/Sgt. Mike Balmaceda, was also among those supporting him throughout his journey. He was the coach for the swim team.
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Rafuse was equally impressive in athletics, returning home with four gold medals and one bronze.
He captured gold in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 4x100m relay, while earning bronze in the 4x400m relay.
“It means so much to me to come home from the Special Olympics with four gold medals and one bronze medal,” Rafuse said. “I am so proud.”
The five-medal performance came after months of hard work, training and determination.
“A lot of people may not realize how much goes into competing at the Special Olympics at this level,” Rafuse said.
“I couldn’t be happier or more proud of what I came home with.”
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Rafuse said representing himself, his family and Team Nova Scotia on the national stage was an experience he will always remember.
“I gave it my all, and I’m incredibly proud to have represented myself, my family, and Team Nova Scotia.”
Together, the two Bravehearts accounted for 13 individual medals, including eight for Balmaceda and five for Rafuse.
The 2026 Games featured about 1,700 participants, including athletes, coaches and staff, with competition in sports ranging from athletics and swimming to soccer, basketball, powerlifting, golf and bowling.
