BC athlete completes rare double by competing in both Canada Winter and Summer Games
by Sam Correa
PEI 2023 is the second Canada Games in six months for Team BC’s Sebastian (Tate) Solomonson (Kamloops).
The biathlete won silver in the 12.5-kilometre individual race in week one of the Games and placed fifth in the single mixed relay team event.
“I knew I really wanted a podium finish,” says Solomonson. “It felt amazing to go on the podium with the BC flag.”
The result in PEI was redemption for him after a disappointment at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. At those Games, he competed in sprint canoe after qualifying first in BC. However, he didn’t step onto the podium in any of his races last summer finishing with “a couple of close calls” (fourth and fifth placements).
“It was really, really tough to leave without some hardware,” he recalls. ”Still, it was an amazing experience. I had never seen that many people like me – guys who love their sport and train every day. The competition in Niagara was super stiff.”
Whether it’s competing on the snow or on the water, Solomonson says his competitive sports depend heavily on equipment – skis, rifle, boat and paddle. It is always a logistical puzzle to make sure the equipment arrives at each event “In paddling, you need your paddle and in biathlon you need your boots and your rifle,” he explains. “I’ve gone to races where I’ve forgotten my ski boots and had to use rental stuff.”
He started in biathlon when he was an air cadet. “They had a biathlon team with their own program,” he says. “There were some really great mentors who got me into the sport and I started performing really well and then moved over to the high-performance club side.”
The engaging 18-year-old, who trains at Sovereign Lake Nordic Club in Vernon, explains his passion for biathlon. “I’ve never found a sport with better community. You are never alone at training. It’s one of the most enjoyable sports to train every day.”
He got into sprint canoe at the age of 10, by going to a bring-a-friend day. “Basically, I never left.”
Competing at a high level in both summer and winter multisport events is nothing new for Solomonson as he took part in the both the 2018 BC Summer and Winter Games. “I do my best. I think that’s the way to stay healthy in sport. I would like to stay dual sport as long as I can. I just can’t pick – I love them both so much.”
His intention is to represent BC again at the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. “I’ll be back!”
– Filed by Sam Corea (@sammy_sez), Team BC Communications Staff
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