The Ontario Summer Games are getting underway in Waterloo region Thursday, bringing together thousands of young athletes from across the province for four days of competition.
Running from Thursday to Sunday, the games feature more than 4,000 athletes between the ages of 12 and 18 competing in 23 sports.
Sports range from basketball and softball to archery and swimming.
Among the athletes competing this week is 16-year-old Ava Denny of Waterloo, who will represent the Central Zone in archery. The Central Zone includes athletes from Toronto, Peel, Dufferin, Simcoe, York, Waterloo and Niagara.
Denny only took up archery a few years ago after trying to find a sport that was the right fit for her. She says she was drawn to the precision and focus required, as well as the individual nature of the competition.
“All of your wins belong to you and all of your mistakes belong to you,” Denny said. “When you win, you’re like, ‘I did that. That was me.'”
Ava Denny is excited to see a province-wide event come to her home town. “Having so many athletes and just so many backgrounds coming into somewhere where I’m from, that’s just an amazing opportunity,” she said. (Submitted by Ava Denny)
Despite having competed for just a few years, Denny has already reached the international stage. Earlier this year, she represented Canada for the first time at a competition in Medellin, Colombia, marking her first time competing outside North America.
She says she is excited to have a large event come to Waterloo region.
“Having so many athletes and just so many backgrounds coming into somewhere where I’m from, that’s just an amazing opportunity,” she said.
Saijul Rai, 16, will represent the Milton Bats in softball at the games.
For Rai, the tournament is about more than competing on the field. As the only Punjabi-Sikh player competing in U17 Tier 1 softball, she hopes her journey encourages more young athletes from similar backgrounds to see a place for themselves in the sport.
Saijul Rai plays softball for the Milton Bats (Submitted by Saijul Rai)
“I’m just really grateful that I get to be the person that kids get to look up to and realize that they can do it too,” she said. “I’m looking forward to competing with lots of amazing athletes.”
‘I really hope to inspire a lot more people’
For 15-year-old William Taylor, reaching the Ontario Summer Games is the result of years of work and determination.
Taylor, from Rainy River First Nation, about four hours west of Thunder Bay, will compete in boys’ volleyball.
William Taylor, 15, is from Rainy River First Nation and is already playing volleyball with students in Grades 11 and 12. (Submitted by Ruthann McGinnis)
Growing up, Taylor says there were not many opportunities for boys to play the sport. He and his dad would use an open recreation centre to practice before school, and he spent hours watching volleyball videos on YouTube.
That dedication helped him earn a spot on his high school’s senior volleyball team, where he played alongside older athletes in Grades 11 and 12.
He says some people questioned whether he could balance school and sports, and he faced comments and stereotypes connected to his identity.
“There was a lot of doubts because of my heritage,” Taylor said. “People would just make some jokes and teasing.”
Taylor says the support of his family helped him move forward.
“If I fall, I have a safety net of support that just helps my confidence.”
By competing the Ontario Summer Games, Taylor wants to be an example for others in his community.
“I really hope to inspire a lot more people and show them that it’s possible,” Taylor said.
Building confidence through sport
Aiden Mayer, 18, is competing in frame running at the Ontario Summer Games, using a three-wheeled frame that provides support while he races.
Mayer was born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a rare birth defect that affected the development of his lungs and diaphragm, limiting his strength and endurance.
He discovered frame running two years ago after a chance meeting at the Ontario Games in St. Catharines. His father and coach, Andy Mayer, said another coach introduced them to the sport and Aiden quickly took to it.
“He actually enjoyed doing it,” Andy said. “So now he actually has some balance instead of potentially falling over when he runs the 100 metres.”
Aiden Mayer uses a three-wheeled frame for support while running. (Submitted by Andy Mayer)
Since then, Andy said the sport has helped Aiden build confidence while connecting with other athletes who support him during practices and competitions.
“When you hear the crowd cheering him on and he’s got the biggest smile in the world, it just makes your heart melt,” Andy said.
A ‘high stakes’ event
Meet 2 Kitchener athletes competing in the Ontario Summer Games
The Ontario Summer Games are in Waterloo region this week, bringing together young athletes aged 12 to 18 from across the province to compete in more than a dozen sports, including volleyball, basketball, archery and softball. CBC KW’s Diego Pizarro spoke to two athletes from Return of the Dragon Martial Arts studio in Kitchener about competing in the games. Klara White, 11, is competing in kickboxing, and Dru Schraud, 13, is competing in kung fu.
Five students from Return of the Dragon Martial Arts Studio in Kitchener will compete in various martial arts events.
Klara White, 11, will compete in sanda, a form of kickboxing that combines striking with takedowns. She first became interested in martial arts through kickboxing, which she started as a way to learn self defence.
“Just the premise of having something to defend myself if I would ever need it,” she said.
“I thought that doing takedowns would be like a little fun experience.”
Klara White competing in sanda, a form of kickboxing that combines striking with takedowns. (Diego Pizarro/CBC)
The Ontario Summer Games will be one of the biggest competitions White has participated in. She said she is nervous but excited for the opportunity to test herself against other athletes.
“I want to try my best to get gold if ever possible,” White said.
Dru Schraud, 13, has been practicing kung fu for about nine years and will compete using a traditional long staff.
Dru Schraud will compete using a long wooden staff. (Diego Pizarro/CBC)
Schraud said the sport has challenged him while helping him stay active.
“It pushes my body and it’s just really fun,” he said.
He said competing at the Ontario Summer Games will be a challenging task.
“It’s a really big event, so it’s high stakes,” he said.
