The dream starts here for Team Tomorrow.
Some of the greatest names in Island sports 鈥� Steve Nash, Ryan Cochrane, Richard Weinberger, Gareth Rees, Gary Reed, Paul and Gary Gait to name just a few 鈥� have gone through the sa国际传媒 Summer Games.
But only a few did what Islander Ashley Osachuk will get to do in the 2013 Games 鈥� carry in the sa国际传媒 flag next Friday during the opening ceremony of this year's Games in Sherbrooke, Que.
The Campbell River wrestler was announced as the sa国际传媒 flag-bearer Thursday but has known for about a week.
鈥淚t was a really hard secret to keep. You just wanted to tell everyone because you鈥檙e so excited,鈥� said Osachuk, the sa国际传媒 high school girls鈥� 54-kilo champion, who graduated in the spring from Timberline Secondary.
鈥淚 was shocked when they told me. It鈥檚 such an honour.鈥�
The sa国际传媒 Games are designed to introduce the nation鈥檚 top junior-age athletes to the sort of multi-Games distractions they will face at the Olympics.
Many learn well. Among Vancouver Island鈥檚 several gold medallists at the last sa国际传媒 Summer Games in 2009 at Prince Edward Island, Weinberger went on to win bronze in swimming at the 2012 London Olympics, while volleyball star Shanice Marcelle is set to lead sa国际传媒 into qualifying play for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
鈥淢y ultimate goal is to compete in the Olympic Summer Games of 2020 and 2024 and win a gold medal,鈥� Osachuk said by phone from Campbell River.
She is certainly good enough to dream, having won the bronze medal last year at Venezuela in the Pan American cadet championships in what was her first international competition.
鈥淚 had never travelled like that before and it was so different 鈥� the culture and the climate 鈥� but I learned so much,鈥� said the 18-year-old who is headed to SFU鈥檚 acclaimed wrestling program in the fall.
Osachuk played everything in Campbell River from volleyball and soccer to basketball and ringette. But when she hit the mats, she was hooked.
鈥淚t was something new at the time and I really liked it,鈥� she said.
鈥淚n an individual sport, it鈥檚 up to you.鈥�
Of the 360 sa国际传媒 athletes named Friday for the Sherbrooke Games, 84 are from the Island. By sport from the Island, 16 athletes will compete in track and field, 14 in rowing, eight in cycling, six each in basketball, swimming and triathlon, five each in diving, canoeing and sailing, four in baseball and two each in volleyball, softball and golf.
And three in wrestling, including a flag-bearer.
