Canada’s games have been an important part of the country’s athletic panorama since they started in 1967. It is the largest multisoportist domestic event in Canada and, often, the pinnacle of the races of their athletes.
For others, it is a key springboard on the way to become an Olympic.
That includes the four athletes honest by the Canada Games on Friday at St. John’s. Diana Matheson, the sisters Sharon and Shirley Firth, and Lennox Lewis, joined by the builder Ajay Patel and the distinguished student Jennifer Bishop, were officially induced to the Hall of Honor of the Canada Games.
Matheson, Lewis and the twins Firth represented Canada at the Olympic Games, and his trip was molded for his time as athletes from the Canada Games.
Canada’s games were a release launch for Matheson, which competed at 16 for the Ontario team in the 2001 edition in London, Ontario. Only two years later, he was in the National Canadian Women’s Soccer team and played in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“The fact that I was playing with a group of players who were older and better than me at that time prepared me as a athlete to go to the next level. [The Canada Games were] Absolutely a great fundamental point on my trip, “he said.
Matheson spent 17 years representing Canada with the national team, winning two Olympic bronze medals along the way. She said that Canada’s games have had a great impact on her life and those of many other athletes.
“Canada’s games [are] Special, and you can talk with so many Canadian athletes, old athletes, athletes present, and will tell you what these games meant for them: it has an impact. It creates the next generation of leaders, invests in sports infrastructure, which is so necessary in our country, and is unifying as nothing more. “
Sharon Firth competed for the Northwest territories at the 1971 and 1975 Canada Winter Games with his sister, Shirley, who died in 2013. The twin sisters of Gwich’in of Aklavik, NWT, were among the first indigenous indigenous athletes to represent Canada in the Olympics and part of the team of the first Olympic woman of the Olympic Women Womics.
The Firths are also the only Canadian skier who have competed in four consecutive winter Games (1972, 1976, 1980 and 1984).
Sharon Firth said that Canada’s games were a key reason why she and her sister reached the highest level of her sport.
“It’s really exciting because Canada’s games are a springboard to be in the national team, in the Olympic team, in the World Cup team, [or] World Championship team, “he said.” You simply advance because they are such surprising events there. [The Canada Games] It helps to be very disciplined and sports carry your teaching throughout life. “
Lewis won the gold boxing for the Ontario team at the 1983 Canada Games. He went to the Olympic Games for Canada, winning the super heavy gold medal in 1988.
“Representing Ontario at the Canada Games was an important milestone in my early career,” Lewis said in a statement. “He taught me discipline, focus and gave me the opportunity to try and grow as a competitor.
“Being included in the Hall of Honor of the Canada Games is a complete circle moment. It is a reminder of where the trip began, and it is an honor to be recognized by the same platform that helped shape my path, not only as a boxer, but as a young man with great dreams.”
The events begin from August 8 to 25 in St. John’s, NL and will be broadcast on CBC Sports and CBC Gem.
What does the Canada games have that helps athletes reach the next level as high performance athletes? Matheson believes that the games simulate what to expect from an atmosphere like the Olympic Games.
“The Olympic Games are nothing more because it is multisport, and it is chaos, and is not only adapted to you and your sport,” Matheson said. “You are part of this broader system, around many other people and you can encourage different sports. You can reply [the Olympics] At this base level really with Canadians throughout Canada. “
Transmit live action of Canada Games of 2025 in Cbcsports.ca, CBC Gem and the YouTube Sports CBC channel. Check the Transmission schedule For complete details.
It is not just the multisport aspect that young athletes obtain from their experience in the Canada Games, according to the president of the Canada Game Council, Catriona Le May Doan. The three -time athlete of the Canada Games and twice Olympic champion said that Canada Games are an introduction to the stress of acting in a rare event while representing something bigger than they themselves.
“For most athletes, it is their only opportunity in the Canada Games. Then, it is dealing with the pressure, [the] pressure that they mostly put on themselves. Pressure that they feel they use the colors of their province or territory, as it is when they represent the colors of their country, “said Le May Doan.
The current Canadian Olympics also accredit Canada Games for helping them reach their potential, and say that the 2025 games can do the same for their athletes.
The Olympic sprinter Audrey Leduc has some tips for this year’s athletes in St. John’s, makes every moment count.
“Enjoy [the Games]It will happen so fast. You must enjoy every minute and every second because it will fly, “said Leduc.” All the experiences that you will get from the games will be useful in your personal life, but also in your athletic life. “
Gatineau’s native, who won three gold medals in the 2022 Canada Games, but said he pressed a lot to perform. Leduc found his experience in the useful multisport environment to handle that stress.
“I think it can help you if you are stressed, just learning to live with stress during the day [and] Be close to other athletes from other sports. “
Olympic companion Savannah Sutherland said she learned a lot about how to be part of a team could be part of her support system during a competition.
The Borden, Sask. Hurdler took home the gold in the 2022 Games in Canada and said that his advice for 2025 athletes would be to enjoy the opportunity to compete for his province.
“The most important thing is to compete with your heart, turn off your mind and simply run,” said Sutherland. “It is really special to be able to represent his province. I still have a lot of pride in that, yet.
“Then, compete with your heart, and you have those people behind your back that always support you, and let them carry it and simply do what you do.”
Look at the knowledge of the Anastasia Bucsis test athletes of CBC Sports at the Canada Games.
