Nicole Tovar Dominates Open Water Competition

Nicole Tovar Brailovsky, a para-swimmer and student at the National School of Higher Studies in Juriquilla (ENES), delivered a standout performance at the 2025 Ixta Zihua Open Water event, held at El Palmar Beach in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.

The Puma athlete completed the five-kilometer open water swim in 1 hour, 27 minutes, and 49 seconds. Her time earned her three first-place finishes: overall (across both men and women), first in the women’s division, and first in the 19 to 25 age category.

Tovar, who is studying Orthotics and Prosthetics, was born with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a condition that caused a congenital deformity in her right tibia. After undergoing 11 surgeries, her leg was amputated when she was six years old.

She began swimming at age eight for her rehabilitation and physical therapy. By the time she was 13, she had competed in her first national pool event, and a few years later, she discovered open water swimming, a discipline she quickly fell in love with. “Being in the water with wildlife clears my mind. I feel at one with nature,” she said.

Nicole’s passion for learning motivates her in both academics and sports. “Academically, I want to graduate and open my clinic to design sports prosthetics and support para-athletes in Mexico. Athletically, my goal is to win a Paralympic medal. I hope open water swimming will be officially included after Los Angeles 2028,” she shared.