Swimmers prepare for Toronto
North American Indigenous Games squad set for big show in July
James McCarthy
Northern News Services
Monday, May 22, 2017
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
As the 2017 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) approach, the territory's teams are finalizing their rosters.
Inuvik's Julienne Chipesia will be one of 10 swimmers from the NWT heading to the North American Indigenous Games in Toronto this coming July. - NNSL file photo |
When it comes to swimming, it's a case of making sure everyone is in good shape when the start comes around in July.
A total of 10 swimmers from Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik and Fort Smith will represent the territory at the games and youth is the name of the game this time around.
Kelvin Yee of Hay River is the team's coach and while it's a young team on paper, there are some anchors in terms of experience.
"Allie Buhler and Julienne Chipesia have been to big competitions before so they know what to expect," he said. "The atmosphere won't intimidate them."
The swimming venue is the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, the same venue used for the 2015 Pan American Games. It's an Olympic-sized 50-metre pool, twice the size of the pool that swimmers anywhere in the NWT would compete in.
Yee said his expectations for what he wants to see varies depending on the experience of the swimmers.
"For the younger kids, this will be their first time at a major event like this," he said. "I'm expecting them to get personal bests and swim to the best of their ability. The important thing for them to do is try to keep the emotions and nerves in check because it can get away from them quickly if they get caught up in it all."
When it comes to the experienced swimmers, Yee is expecting them to be challenging for spots in event finals.
"They've done this sort of thing before so there's no reason why they shouldn't be racing for finals," he said.
Unlike the Canada Summer Games squad, the NAIG squad was selected in February during a camp as part of the NWT Swimming Championships in Yellowknife.
"There wasn't a qualifying time the kids had to meet, which is what the Canada Summer Games kids had to do," said Yee. "The kids signed up and took part in the camp and were chosen during that camp."
Twelve swimmers had originally made the final cut but that number was reduced to the current number of 10 after two swimmers had hit their Canada Summer Games qualifying times at the Konge Construction Spring Meet in Yellowknife earlier this month.
As to how the swimmers have been doing since the camp, Yee said all he can do is go by what the coaches are telling him.
"I see the kids at meets and those are the only times I can see them," he said. "I've been in contact with Vince (Brown, head coach in Inuvik) through e-mail to get updates on how they're doing. I'm confident, though, that they'll be ready once it's time."
