A hat trick for Rylee
Local teen cleans up at North American Indigenous Games
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This article was published 30/08/2023 (963 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Rylee Normand enjoyed winning a medal at the North American Indigenous Games so much, she did it again. And again.
The 17-year-old Southdale resident — who identifies as Métis — represented Team Manitoba at the recent games, which were held in Halifax, N.S. in July.
In all, the teen won three badminton medals — a gold in the singles and doubles tournaments and a silver in the mixed doubles. In the doubles category, Normand was paired with Maureen Thompson and in the mixed double category, she was paired with Evan Hancock.
Photo by Simon Fuller
Southdale resident and J.H. Bruns Collegiate student Rylee Normand won three medals at the recent North American Indigenous Games.
“It feels good,” said Normand, who will soon enter her Grade 12 year at J.H. Bruns Collegiate. “I’m feeling happy. Going into the games, I didn’t know if I was going to play singles, because of my ankle, and it was a bit unexpected that might ankle held up.”
Like many successful student-athletes, Normand is modest about her achievements, and her success at NAIG is made all the more impressive due to the fact she suffered an ankle injury in January when she tore ligaments rolling on it at a tournament, resulting in a Grade 3 sprain. This meant time spent on crutches, in a walking boot, and in a half-cast, which cast doubt on her performing at last month’s games. The fact she has a 94 per cent grade point average is just as impressive.
When it comes to her love of badminton, Normand — a former gymnast who now coaches the sport, too — said she loves coming alive on the court, notwithstanding the differences between the two sports.
“You have to be agile, and hand-eye co-ordination is important, and you have to develop your movements over time. You have to have a lot of grip-strength,” Normand said, noting adapting between the two sports was a new learning curve for her.
Normand is grateful for the support of her family and friends, as well as David Gowriluk — her teacher at Shamrock School who introduced her to the sport — and current coach Dale Kinley.
Photo by Simon Fuller
Rylee Normand won a gold in the singles and doubles tournaments and a silver in the mixed doubles at the North American Indigenous Games.
She said of all the provinces at the recent games, Nunavut represented a serious threat.
“Every game we had with them was really close,” Normand said.
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