麻豆社区

After a sparkling performance at the North American Indigenous Games, Rennes Lindsay鈥檚 tank was empty for the Canadian junior swimming championships last week.

But the 14-year-old is confident her batteries will be recharged when she leaves Saturday as a member of Team Yukon, representing the territory at the Canada Summer Games.

Coach Malwina Bukszowana of the local Glacier Bears Swim Club told the Star Tuesday that Lindsay was tired heading to the junior championships in Toronto last week.

The week before, she captured seven medals at the Indigenous Games in Toronto and then headed straight to the junior nationals, also in Toronto.

鈥淭hat was too much,鈥� said Bukszowana, who was with Lindsay at the nationals. 鈥淪he felt tired.鈥�

The swim coach said unless you鈥檙e a super high level swimmer, back-to-back meets can be a daunting challenge.

Bukszowana said Lindsay did come away from the juniors with the experience of being at the nationals, and now this week, she just needs to rest.

鈥淪he should be back for the Canada Summer Games,鈥� she said, adding it鈥檚 still three major competitions coming close together. 鈥淚 think she鈥檒l be rested.鈥�

Lindsay swam to two bronze, a silver and two gold at the North American Indigenous Games.

She was the only member of the Glacier Bears Swim Club to qualify previously for the national age group championships.

Lindsay said in an interview Tuesday, while she didn鈥檛 perform at the nationals to the level she is capable of, it was nonetheless a good experience for her.

She went into the juniors sore and tired.

Under the guidance of her coach, instead of focusing on the time clock, she worked on specific technical aspects of her races, she explained.

Lindsay said her focus was accelerating coming off the wall, particularly in the 400-metre free, her best event.

And it worked.

鈥淚 was going faster off the wall.鈥�

Lindsay said she didn鈥檛 hit any of her personal best times at the junior nationals, but with this week to rest, she expects to be ready for the Summer Games next week.

The training regime until she leaves Saturday will be less intense, longer swims to allow her muscles to loosen up, she said.

鈥淢y birthday is on Aug. 4 and I鈥檓 leaving the next day, so it鈥檚 going to be busy and hectic.鈥�

Lindsay said she鈥檚 looking forward to not only the competition but also the team camaraderie.

She was the only Yukon swimmer at the juniors, but next week she鈥檒l be a part of Team Yukon and that has her stoked.

鈥淐anada Games will be really fun because there will be a big team,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here will be nine swimmers going so my goal will be to have a really good team experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat will be my main thing.鈥�

Lindsay said having the three competitions all jammed together in one summer has also been a good experience.

The first wave of 87 Yukon athletes along with coaches, managers and mission staff arrived in Winnipeg late last week and will be leaving Saturday as the second wave of another 60 Yukon athletes arrive.