Enjoy the Canada Games experience – advice from week one Team BC athletes

Saturday was the turnaround day at the 2017 Canada Summer Games as week one athletes returned to their home provinces and Winnipeg welcomed athletes for the second week of competition.

As members of Team BC settle into the Athletes’ Village over the weekend and get ready to head to their venues on Sunday, athletes from the first week of competition offer their advice.

“Definitely enjoy it. It’s a great opportunity,” said Kaila Butler (Port Coquitlam), who won gold in hammer throw on Friday evening. “Watch as many other sports as you can, if your events allow it. And just enjoy it.  It only happens once for some athletes. It’s something you are going to remember for the rest of your life.”

“Stay excited and don’t lose the drive to win and have a good time,” said long jumper Bryce Mackenzie (Mission).  Fellow long jumper Zack Kuzyk (Maple Ridge) advises week two athletes to make the most of being at a multisport games. “Don’t sit in your room all the time. Go out and explore all the different things and meet new people and have a great experience here.”

Shot put silver medallist Olivia Moriconi (Pitt Meadows) said it’s been a fun week. “I’ve never been to Winnipeg before. The Canada Games is something very special. I didn’t realize that when I signed up. It has been a great competition with great people and the volunteers have been a huge help.”

“It’s mind-blowing, I had a lot of fun here,” said 16-year-old Dolly Gabri (Surrey), who placed sixth in discus throwing. Being a young competitor at her first Canada Games makes her want more. “After seeing the person who came first, I want to achieve as much as her or more than her.  Next time the Canada games happen, I want to break the record.”

“I enjoyed being treated like a pro athlete in the Village and having free physio and free food, said Jeff Webb (Nanaimo), who won gold in beach volleyball along with partner Issac Bevis. “And then, things like playing on TSN and meeting the Prime Minister was pretty awesome.”  

“It was great being in the dorms and having a good relationship with everybody,” said Isaac Bevis (Nanaimo). “Knowing that you can go across the hall and talk to some random dude that you have never met before and say hello. Meeting new people is a really cool experience.”

Week two competitions start on Monday with canoe/kayak, men’s soccer, women’s softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball on the schedule.