International silver medal-winning water polo player Kyra Christmas dropped by the Innisfail Hurricanes Water Polo Club practice to share her skills with the team on Oct. 27 at the Innisfail Aquatic Centre.
Dayna Christmas, Kyra's mother and executive director of the Alberta Water Polo Association, also held a minor officials workshop in conjunction with Kyra's visit for parents and interested individuals.
“With the first of four tournaments leading up to provincials in December, we like to get out and hold workshops for officials around the province,” said the executive director. “In addition to Innisfail, High River and Edmonton we will receive training as well before the end of November.”
Dayna noted the weekend tournament held in Innisfail will involve four communities: Calgary, Innisfail, Medicine Hat and Edmonton, and be used for provincial rankings.
Meanwhile, as officials were trained in the meeting room at the aquatic centre, close to 20 swimmers, aged 6 through 15, received coaching from Quinn Layden and Kyra Christmas.
Kyra played a key role in Canada's stirring silver-medal finish at the Federation International Natation Association World Youth Championships held in Madrid August 25 to 31.
“This last summer, I spent two weeks in Madrid, and time in California and Montreal training for worlds, and an Olympic team qualifying camp,” said Kyra of her whirlwind summer. “I had just come back from Spain and two days later was in Montreal.”
The Grade 12 student attends the National Sport School in Calgary and is surrounded by world-class athletes who often travel around the world for competitions.
“I was raised in High River, and know what it is like to be an elite athlete having to travel to train all of the time,” said the athlete. “Now with going to school in Calgary, my training is closer so it is easier to make that transition. Coming out to Innisfail reminds me of what my early years in water polo were like.”
Kyra added she likes helping young swimmers develop skills in water polo and to give them confidence to dream they can have a chance at the national and international level.
“Teaching younger players, and competing on the international stage has helped me get out of my comfort zone,” said Kyra. “This last month, I was invited to try out for the Canadian Olympic Water Polo team so as a result I have been to Montreal a couple of times already.”
The young athlete noted there will only be eight teams competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and Brazil and the United States are already confirmed, leaving every other country to compete for six positions.
“It will be difficult to make the transition and the Olympics but there has been a change in the Olympic team coaching staff, so there may be younger players like myself who have international experience.”
Young swimmers like Amy Valentine were thrilled to have Kyra help them during the practice and got to wear the silver medal during the evening.
Meanwhile, Kyra's future is tied up with a National Collegiate Athletic Association school in the United States so she can further her water polo skills for the 2020 Olympics.
For more information contact [email protected] or go to www.hurricaneswaterpolo.ca
