Good Eagle wins gold in Brazil

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Siksika Nation’s own Rilee Good Eagle won the gold medal in the eight kilometre run at the 2015 World Indigenous Games earlier this month in Palmas, Brazil
He has only taken running seriously for the last two years, and for him it was nice to win gold but his thoughts through the whole event were to represent his nation with pride.
“It was a moment going through the race,” said Good Eagle. “My thoughts were going down to these games was to represent my nation and my country. It was an amazing feeling crossing the finish line. I dedicate that race to the loved ones that passed away in Siksika this year.”
He said it was a gratifying experience to share in cultural celebrations with thousands of other indigenous athletes from around the world
“The main thing about going to these games was participating in them, but also seeing the other indigenous cultures from all over the world coming together,” said Good Eagle. “That was the strongest component of the games was witnessing it. That was unbelievable.”
Good Eagle was diagnosed with a heart condition in June and was uncertain if he was going to race. After he was given the all-clear to race, he only had six weeks to train, so he contacted the University of Calgary’s track coach Mike Van Tighem, who prepared him for games quickly.
“I was doubting myself,” he said. “My coach gave me these pep talks and also my family, friends, they believed in me, so that made me believe in myself. I worked very hard to get where I was at in shape for the games. Those six weeks did feel long, but then again it paid off big time.”
On Nov. 4, Siksika Nation held a welcome home ceremony for him; Good Eagle did not know it was going on until he arrived at the Deerfoot Sportsplex in Siksika Nation. He was very humbled to be recognized.
“It was an amazing feeling,” said Good Eagle. “The community were right behind my back since I accepted this opportunity to represent my nation, Canada.”
Good Eagle’s uncle, Tyler White, thinks that hard work and proper coaching at Bassano High School and training with the Track and Field Club at the University of Calgary have been the main factors in getting Good Eagle to this event.
“He has been fortunate to have these kinds of experiences,” said White. “Rilee really put in the hard work and self training on his own. You’d see him on the prairies running through different communities in Siksika, it was great to see. I think when people drive by or kids would see Rilee running. I think that was a positive thing for the community to look at.”
White views Good Eagle as a catalyst because he and other athletes in the nation are doing great things through sport.
“These are things we need to see, is positive examples,” said White. “As you know, a lot of First Nations communities face issues of addiction, gang violence, suicide. We need to have these good stories and support these kids here for future generations. To me it’s a catalyst for other things whether it’s sports or academics for people to get their education.”
Good Eagle is now going to nurse his health condition. His long-term goal is to compete in the 2016 summer Olympics in Brazil.