Simon Watts

Simon Watts is arguably the best individual athlete to represent Dalhousie, as a four-time medallist at the CIS national championship, twelve-time AUS medalist, AUS and Dalhousie record holder. From Prospect, Nova Scotia, Simon came to Dalhousie in the fall of 2008 and would go on to have a decorated track and field career.  

In his rookie year, Simon won an AUS gold medal in high jump, AUS bronze medal in long jump, AUS rookie of the year, and AUS all-star. Setting the bar for his Dalhousie career, Simon followed up his rookie year with an AUS gold medal in high jump, CIS gold medal in high jump, first team all-Canadian, AUS athlete of the year, and named Team MVP.  

In the 2010-11 season, Simon proved his consistency in competing at the highest level with winning yet again an AUS gold medal in high jump, AUS gold medal in long jump, CIS silver medal in high jump, named second team all-Canadian, AUS field athlete of the year and an AUS all star.   

Nick named “The Golden Child” by his coach Rich Legan because of his impressive ability to jump, Simon continued to live up to the nickname in his third season which would prove to be one of his best yet. Simon would claim another AUS gold medal in high jump, AUS gold medal in long jump, AUS gold medal in triple jump, CIS gold medal in triple jump, named Team MVP, first team all-Canadian, AUS championship athlete of the meet, AUS all star and a Climo award winner.  

Entering his fifth and final year at Dalhousie, Simon’s resume which already had a few records to his name including a national junior medal, a CIS championship in two events, three CIS medals, two AUS records, three Dalhousie records, numerous Nova Scotia open records and six CIS top five finishes, was about to get longer.  

Simon capped off his senior year with an AUS gold medal in high jump, AUS gold medal in long jump, AUS gold medal in triple jump, a CIS bronze medal in triple jump, named Team MVP, AUS field athlete of the year and an AUS all star.  

Simon graduated in 2013 with a kinesiology degree and continued to give back to the program coaching the next generation of Dalhousie jumpers. Simon’s impact can still be felt in the program, as his AUS high jump record of 2.11m still stands almost ten years later.