Nicholas Dworet

A champion in the lap pool Nicholas Dworet had won a scholarship to the University of Indianapolis and found joy in constant motion.

When the 17-year-old wasn’t swimming, he traveled to Sweden to visit grandparents and competed in triathlons with his parents, Mitch and Annika Dworet, and younger brother Alexander. Nick captained the Stoneman Douglas swim team, once winning fifth place in the 4A State Championship in the 100-meter freestyle.

His blueprint for success: a whiteboard in his bedroom, on which he wrote his life goals and inspirational quotes. Written on his goal sheet taped next to Nick’s bed: “I will train as hard as I can in and out of the water. Even on my hardest days I swear to give it my all, and I will let nothing stand in my way.”

For Nick, the goal was competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Dworets said. “We honor Nick for his love of life, his true love Daria, his positive attitude and his respect for what he cherished most: his family and friends.”

They sent the following message to the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

“Nick visited Sweden with his family many times over the years to visit his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, but his last trip to Sweden this summer was a very special one where he was able to bring his girlfriend Daria to show her his heritage and the beautiful country.

“Far from perfect, and a typical teenager, he had a habit of ‘collecting’ empty Oreo packages in his closet, running his car almost on empty, and somehow always going over his monthly cellular data limit, leaving wrappers and used paper plates in the car as he ate on his way to practice. Always the charmer, he only had to flash his million-dollar smile, and all was forgiven.

“Nicholas was many things: a romantic, a dreamer, a mentor to so many on his swim team where he was given the nickname “Big Boss”; a music lover, a lover of life, a true friend, best brother ever, a son that brought so much joy to his parents, and so much more. But most of all, his spark of life will be forever with us and forever missed.”

Donations may be made to Swim4Nick.com, a nonprofit honoring Nicholas’ memory with swim clinics and scholarships for Stoneman Douglas swimmers.