Andrew Cole, of Middleton, Nova Scotia, is one of the greatest male swimmers Nova Scotia has produced. As a member of the Dartmouth Crusaders Swim Club, he honed his skill and technique in the late 1970s. He was a finalist at the Canadian National Championships in 1980 and was named Nova Scotia Male Swimmer of the Year, a distinction he would earn for seven successive years.

As a member of Nova Scotia’s 1981 Summer Canada Games in Thunder Bay, Ontario, he captured Nova Scotia’s first-ever gold medal in men’s swimming, winning the 100 meters breaststroke. He complemented this performance with a bronze medal in the 200-metre breaststroke. His gold medal was Atlantic Canada’s only gold medal in the Canada Games that summer. His performance at the Canada games propelled him to an incredible swimming career.

Cole was an eleven-time AUAA champion, two-time CIAU champion, ten-time CIAU finalist and eight-time CIAU medalist, winning four silver and two bronze to go with two gold. He was a member of Canada’s Swim Team in 1983, a team member of Canadian World University Games team in 1985 and member of Canadian National Tour team from 1984 to 1988.

He retired following the 1988 Canadian Olympic trials.

Andrew Cole was elected to the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1993 for his accomplishments, commitment, dedication and determination he consistently demonstrated throughout his swimming career.

(Reference: Annual Program Induction Article by Nigel Kemp)