September 2026 Athlete of the Month
By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller
Nicholas Delgado, 55
Upland, California
Swimming
Swimmer Nicholas Delgado surprised himself by making a big splash in his first National Senior Games last summer, reeling in two gold and two bronze medals in the 50-54 age group. He could not have imagined even standing on a pool deck after surviving a horrific car accident less than four years ago.
“A guy was texting and driving when he hit me,” the California native recalls. “My car hit the center divider and it spun across all four lanes. My head hit the windshield and the driver’s side window, and both my neck and lower back popped. I couldn’t feel anything from my neck down, and they had to use the ‘jaws of life’ to get me out. I was scared for my life.”
Over time, his neck has improved, but the lower back continues to bother Nicholas. “Each and every day I deal with pain, and I try to do my best at every practice and meet that I attend.”
Nicholas has been a passionate high school mathematics teacher for 30 years. While he competed in high school and set a record in his one year of college swimming, he only managed to swim masters and open water events a few times as he obtained multiple degrees and pursued a busy teaching career.
Nicholas coached swimming and water polo for 11 years at Summit High School, where his teams won nine league championships in swimming in Division IV – California Federation (CIF). In his final year of coaching, 2023–2024, his boys’ water polo team went on a rampage and won both the league and the CIF Division VI championship.
The car crash and his road to recovery was a reset that made him realize he was coaching everyone but himself.
Adversity Brings New Goals
“I put on lots of weight when I was coaching. I did not spend time for myself to get healthier,” he shares. “After I was done coaching in 2024, I told myself, ‘I have to do something for me, or else I am going to die.’ That’s why I went back to master’s swimming.”
Nicholas joined The Claremont Club (TCC) and began to train and improve his times. In fall of 2024, Nicholas took a shot at a swimming competition in Las Vegas, where a new goal would manifest itself.
“I went for a two-day competition and swam five events. At the awards ceremony, the lady in charge said, ‘Congratulations! You qualified for Des Moines!’ I had no idea what she was talking about,” he says with a laugh. “She explained if you place in the top three of your events or had certain times you automatically qualify for the National Senior Games. That is something I could try and especially have fun participating in!”
Nicholas Delgado and family at the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Photo courtesy Nicholas Delgado.
Nicholas, his son Noah and his 79-year-old mother, Lupe, enjoyed the trip to Des Moines for the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana. “To be honest, I almost cried as we watched the morning group swim first, and they were age 70 years and older,” he shares. “There were individuals in their 80s and some in their 90s, and they are still swimming! I applaud them so much because a lot of people don’t do anything at all at their age. It takes a lot, but they still go out there and do it, and they have fun.”
After his first National Senior Games experience and making new friends among the competitors and volunteers, Nicholas set another new goal. He wrote “Let’s qualify for Tulsa 2027” on paper that he keeps in his room and added to his school whiteboard. He has already qualified by taking four medals in the 2026 Pasadena Senior Games.
Taking a Life Perspective
Photo courtesy Nicholas Delgado.
The car accident, as bad as it was, helped Nicholas not take things for granted. “I am very lucky, and I surround myself with very positive people. I love what I do, whether it is in the pool, at work or out with friends,” he observes. “For every bad day that I have, there are 20 good days. As we get older, life becomes very different; our bodies are not the same compared to when we were younger. The body aches more, ailments creep up, and that’s okay. It’s a part of life. So make every moment count.”
Nicholas advises new swimmers to take gradual steps. “Start with a simple, reasonable goal, accomplish it and then continue to build up from there,” he states. “Have fun, work hard and enjoy life. When you work hard, great rewards can be sought in life.”
“Don’t let life put you down,” he concludes. “You got to go for it.”
Ready to set your next big goal and connect with peers who share your passion for being active? Start your Senior Games journey today.
