Sisters Holly and Hannah Henry acknowledge that others have mentioned the Olympic and world-champion Brownlee brothers to them when talking about triathlon aspirations. Because of the siblings angle, it鈥檚 understandable that people would do it, although that kind of rarefied accomplishment is a long way off, yet.
But that鈥檚 what the 2015 Western sa国际传媒 Summer Games, which begin today in Wood Buffalo, Alta., are all about. The Games have been a launching pad for Olympic medallists such as swimmer Ryan Cochrane of Victoria, shot-putter Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops and two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash of Victoria.
The Henry sisters are part of a 427-member sa国际传媒 team, which includes 334 athletes, 47 coaches, 24 managers and 22 mission staff. Of those, 88 are from the Island.
There were 51 sa国际传媒 team alumni from past Western sa国际传媒 Summer Games competing in the recent 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games, including gold medallists Cochrane and javelin thrower Liz Gleadle. It is the middle part of a multi-sport development cycle which starts with the sa国际传媒 Summer Games and concludes with the sa国际传媒 Summer Games. For the best, it leads to international events such as the Olympics and Pan Am and Commonwealth Games.
The latter is where the Henry sisters, already sa国际传媒 Games medallists, have their sights set. It isn鈥檛 lost on them that they train in a community that has seen its share of triathlon success through double Olympic-medallist Simon Whitfield, Commonwealth Games-medallist Kirsten Sweetland and Ironman Hawaii world champions Lori Bowden and Peter Reid. Throw in emerging Matt Sharpe from Campbell River and Albertans Paula Findlay and Ellen Pennock, who spend a great deal of time training here. It is against this backdrop that Island kids join this sport. Holly Henry began at age eight.
鈥淚 liked that it tied three sports together into one,鈥� she said.
The ripple effect within the family was immediate.
鈥淚 saw Holly doing it, so I started it, too,鈥� said Hannah, who joined the sport one year after her older sister enrolled in it.
It鈥檚 that siblings part of the equation that has piqued interest in the Henrys.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really cool that people mention the Brownlees to us,鈥� said Holly, feeling no added pressure because of it.
Holly is 17 and Hannah will turn 16 later this year. They are heading into Grades 12 and 11, respectively, as honour roll students at Mount Douglas Secondary.
鈥淲e are competitive and push each other, but we have different strengths,鈥� said Hannah. 鈥淚 like to run while Holly is better in the water and on the bike.鈥�
They are not afraid to dream big.
鈥淚 am hoping to make the sa国际传媒 Summer Games next. My goal is the Olympics,鈥� said Holly.
鈥淏ut that is only going to happen through being motivated, working hard and being completely focused in every practice.鈥�
That comes under the keen training eye of former Canadian international Kelly Guest. With three triathletes Western sa国际传媒 Games bound from his Victoria club 鈥� the Henrys and Desirae Ridenour of Cowichan Bay 鈥� it鈥檚 only fitting Guest will coach sa国际传媒 at the Games.
sa国际传媒 has topped the overall medals table in each of the 10 Western sa国际传媒 Summer Games, including the previous set in 2011 at Kamloops.
