It has already been an extremely busy year for IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 Akutaq Williamson Bathory, but the 18-year-old from Iqaluit is just getting started.

In the span of eight months, she won three gold medals for Nunavut in short-track speed skating at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Alberta, smashed several Nunavut speed skating records at the Canada Winter Games in PEI, and graduated high school with a $100,000 scholarship from the Loran Scholars Foundation SA国际影视传媒� enough, in sum, to earn quite a bit of media attention.

Come September, she will add another accomplishment to the list when she flies south to begin studying sociology at the University of Calgary.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 really looking forward to it,SA国际影视传媒� she said of the move. SA国际影视传媒淚 know it will be a huge adjustment mentally, physically and emotionally, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be rough no matter where I go for the first few weeks or months. ISA国际影视传媒檓 looking forward to the whole adventure of it, because whatSA国际影视传媒檚 excitement without a little bit of fear.SA国际影视传媒�

While much of Williamson BathorySA国际影视传媒檚 time will be spent studying and socializing with new friends, she will also continue speed skating.

She will train six days a week, on and off the universitySA国际影视传媒檚 Olympic Oval. That will include a four-hour session on Saturday mornings SA国际影视传媒� much longer than the one and two-hour sessions sheSA国际影视传媒檚 grown accustomed to in Iqaluit.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a huge adjustment,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Despite all sheSA国际影视传媒檚 achieved as a speed skater, Williamson Bathory still has some big goals in the sport. For starters, she aims to skate 500 metres in less than 50 seconds.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really want to achieve that and I know that I will,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 know I can push myself.

SA国际影视传媒淚 know ISA国际影视传媒檒l get stronger over the years.SA国际影视传媒�

Many of the 18-year-oldSA国际影视传媒檚 goals have other Nunavummiut youth at heart: she aims to inspire that up-and-coming generation.

SA国际影视传媒淚 want to beat my personal records and continue to be a role model for the younger kids to show them that they have these great opportunities, and show them that they have the ability to take advantage of those opportunities and continue thriving on this beautiful land that weSA国际影视传媒檝e been raised on.SA国际影视传媒�

As an established athlete and coach with the Nunavut Speed Skating Association, Williamson Bathory sees particular potential in the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 young athletes, and hopes to have opportunities to teach and motivate those athletes in the future, just as her long-time coach Kyle St. Laurent has done for her since she started skating as a young girl.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 definitely planning on coming back and continuing coaching, because speed skating has been such a big thing for me,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 really hope that I can come back to my community and help give that feeling to other kids.

SA国际影视传媒淣unavut has such strong, beautiful athletes and itSA国际影视传媒檚 amazing. I canSA国际影视传媒檛 wait to see what more there is to come for Nunavut athletes.SA国际影视传媒�

The territorySA国际影视传媒檚 young athletes will have to do without Williamson BathorySA国际影视传媒檚 mentorship while she is pursuing her degree in Calgary, but the 18-year-old was happy to share some advice with anybody who seeks to follow in her footsteps.

SA国际影视传媒淏e confident in yourself and be brave and push forward,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭o be from Nunavut is so beautiful. Be proud of who you are and where you come from.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome kids might feel isolated, and like they might not have support, which is another struggle in Nunavut, but take the tools that you have in front of you, and strive for great things in life.SA国际影视传媒�