The competition only started a few days ago, but it’s already historic Canada games for Team New Brunswick on Prince Edward Island.
Fredericton gymnasts Eric Davis and Dexter Richard won the province’s first-ever medal in trampolining on Monday – gold in synchronized competition.
“We worked hard for it,” Davis said.
“I’m over the moon with joy,” said Richard.
CLOCK | ‘Overjoyed’… and Altitude:
Davis and Richard are expected to be back in action for the individual trampoline competition on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Oromocto’s Emilee Goodine narrowly missed out on a medal Monday in karate, a sport making its debut at the Canada Games.
Goodine was fighting for bronze in the form competition, said Team NB spokesman Bruce Macfarlane.
Sparring events in karate are still ongoing.
Another achievement has been made in table tennis where, after a two-decade hiatus, New Brunswick has athletes competing in the sport.
The table tennis team includes a couple of very young standouts.
Petitcodiac’s brothers Harrison and Oliver Woodworth, aged 12 and 11 respectively, only took up the sport about two years ago during the pandemic.
After trying it out on vacation and “getting hooked,” as they told Radio-Canada, the brothers received their own table as a Christmas present and have apparently spent more than a few hours playing since.
They joined a club in Moncton and competed in tournaments centered around the Maritimes.
The fast-paced action appeals to Oliver, who admits he lacks patience.
Sometimes the siblings resent each other, but overall they have good chemistry, Harrison said.
They are energetic and put on a good show, Macfarlane said.
“They gave Saskatchewan a run for their money,” he said during Monday’s promotion.
The Woodworths finished seventh in men’s doubles on Monday after a win over PEI
Most “paddlers” at the games are 16 or 17 years old.
It’s challenging going up against competitors who have both an experience advantage and a size advantage, said Harrison, who is 5ft 1in tall.
The brothers are already looking forward to being bigger and better for a possible return to the Canada Games in 2027.
At these games, New Brunswick has a contingent of 210 athletes and 70 coaches, managers and mission staff.
Because the competition is so close to home, there are also many New Brunswick fans cheering for the team, Macfarlane said.
“We are so well represented, not only on the field or on the playing surface, but in the crowd.
“There’s a sea of New Brunswickers here – so many flags, so many noisemakers… and many New Brunswickers have come to volunteer.”
New Brunswick’s other major involvement in these games is that Crabbe Mountain, near Fredericton, hosts the downhill skiing events.
The mogul competition is scheduled to start on Saturday, MacFarlane said, and other alpine events are planned for early next week.
Athletes also compete in biathlon, women’s curling, men’s hockey, ringette, speed skating, squash and wheelchair basketball this week.
