Wikwemikong athlete wins medals

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Sara Beaudry-Pitawanakwat has served as a positive role model for First Nations youth for the past dozen years. She has often performed as a trail-blazer, but never before has the significance of her role struck so close to home.

In her recent bid for medals at the fifth North American Indigenous Games, her son Alwyn was in the stands cheering her on. At the impressionable age of 11 he was thrilled to witness the opening ceremonies and watch his mother compete against runners and jumpers from all over the continent.

"These games were really special," related Beaudry-Pitawanakwat. "It was pretty amazing to have him there with me. And now he's interested in qualifying for the 2005 games. It might be the first time a mother and son team will compete in the Indigenous games together."

The Manitoulin Island native is a veteran of the international event. She has won 11 medals since the 1990 games in Edmonton. In fact, she is the only athlete on Team Ontario to have entered every competition since their inception.

"Since I have been to races in Prince Albert, Minnesota and Victoria, the younger ones now ask me for advice," she said.

She travelled west with 600 athletes from Ontario to join 7,000 competitors from throughout Turtle Island. The games ran July 29 to Aug. 5. She qualified for the 5000 metre and the 4x4 (400 metre) relay.

"When I won the bronze medal in the 800, it really set the tone for the rest of the events," she said. "I was feeling excited and motivated to run the 5000. It turned out to be a tough field with 13 girls. Team Ontario turned on the heat for the 4x4 relay and emerged with the gold. "That was the icing on the cake for all of us," said Beaudry-Pitawanakwat.

Although jumping is not part of her routine, Beaudry-Pitawanakwat decided to attempt the long jump. To her surprise she made the final cut and placed sixth.

Back home in Wikwemikong for a well-deseved rest, the Laurentian University sports psychology student spent some time volunteering at the community pow wow. "The whole trip was awesome," she said. "I am still reeling from the excitement because I wasn't sure I would win a medal this time."