The Beaufort Delta contingent of athletes in the 2017 North American Indigenous Games got Team NWT off to a hot start.
The canoe racers, many of whom came from the region, brought home eight of the teamSA国际影视传媒檚 28 medals in the first days of the competition.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e super happy with the performance that everyone had,SA国际影视传媒� said coach Shona Barbour.
Kyra McDonald led off Team NWT with a silver in the 14U race. Shortly thereafter, Davina McLeod and Kaidan McDonald teamed up for the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 first gold in the 19U tandem competition.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat was quite a standout performance,SA国际影视传媒� said Barbour. SA国际影视传媒淭hey won that race by quite a bit. It was one of the fastest canoe races I had seen in a long time.SA国际影视传媒�
She gives a lot of respect to McLeod, who took home four medals herself.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a tough competition,SA国际影视传媒� said Barbour. SA国际影视传媒淭o be able to go out there and race six races in the heat and conditions, it takes a pretty good athlete.SA国际影视传媒�
Darius Andre also teamed with McDonald for a bronze in the 19U male competition.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was a lot of fun,SA国际影视传媒� he said in the Inuvik airport after returning home from the event. SA国际影视传媒淭he team was very positive for each other. Lots of laughs, had a lot of fun on the lake.SA国际影视传媒�
He also competed in NAIG in 2014.
SA国际影视传媒淟ast time there were only two of us who got medals,SA国际影视传媒� said Andre. SA国际影视传媒淭his time there were six of us. Everybody competed and everybody had fun.SA国际影视传媒�
Assistant coach Tim Gordon said his philosophy toward the games is emphasizing to youth that they need to take on anything in life with intent.
SA国际影视传媒淣othing comes easy, so if you want to compete in anything you do, you have to give 100 per cent,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭here are no shortcuts. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 no losing when you go out and do your best.SA国际影视传媒�
Barbour said the strong canoe performance carries on the tradition of canoeing in the territory.
SA国际影视传媒淭he kids do it now as a sport, but at one time or another their parents or their grandparents all did it as a traditional activity,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 neat they get to come here and do a sport that has such a history and meaning to their families and the region they come from.SA国际影视传媒�
She said the athletes represented the NWT with sportsmanship and respect.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think the pride they have being NWT athletes and athletes from the Delta is so high right now,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Beyond canoeing, Inuvik athletes Jackson Christie and Braeden Picek both picked up medals in the athletics events, while Marshall Brown took home three medals in swimming.
