Four Strathmore figure skaters gearing up for nationals
By Janet Kanters Times Editor
Photo Courtesy of Jodi Flanagan
Emma Bittorf, McKenna Husband, Eleanor Saubak and Kennedy Zaytsoff, all from Strathmore and members of Special Olympics Team Alberta, took part in a training camp at Mount Royal University in Calgary on Sept. 8.
“Team Alberta athletes make a commitment to train year-round leading up to national games,” said Jodi Flanagan, Chef de Mission for Team Alberta. “These figure skaters may have some time off the ice, but work hard in the gym and cross training with other sports. These athletes are very dedicated to their team, their sport and are always looking to improve their performance.”
The four Strathmore skaters, along with three other members of Team Alberta figure skating – Amber Harriman and JorDen Tyson from Calgary, and Meg Ohsada from Canmore – their head coach Barb Prystai from Calgary and associate coach Olea Taboulchanas from Lethbridge, met for fitness training, workshops and team bonding.
Additional training camps for other sports are planned.
“Team Alberta will host training camps in each of the eight sports over the course of the year,” said Flanagan. “These camps provide opportunity for the athletes (who may live in different regions) and coaches to get to know each other as well as working on some technical and physical training. SOA (Special Olympics Alberta) partners with ASDC (Alberta Sport Development Centres) as well as other sport scientists to help athletes and coaches with their further development and success.”
Team Alberta will represent the province at the 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Thunder Bay, Ont. from Feb. 25 to 29.
Based on the results from the 2019 Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games in Calgary, 131 athletes, coaches and mission staff throughout the province were chosen to represent Alberta at the National Games.
“Athletes lives attending a national games are forever changed by the skills, friendships and confidence they develop through this exciting experience. It is pure joy to witness their growth,” said Sallie Szanik, Team Alberta mission staff.