Up Front - An athletic gem

Submitted photo

Lina Gordon

Lina Gordon is a young athlete with big goals and dreams that keep her striving to be healthy and fit.

Submitted photo

Lina Gordon

Lina Gordon is a young athlete with big goals and dreams that keep her striving to be healthy and fit.

Staying fit and healthy is not always the norm for 12-year-olds, but that’s Lina Gordon’s goal.

The Grade 6 graduate of Hazel M. Kellington School was heavily involved in numerous school sports, including track and field, volleyball and basketball. Not to mention the extra-curricular sports of hockey, soccer and competing for Neepawa's Blue Dolphins swim team.

"I just want to stay fit and healthy. There's this feeling I get when running and I just can't stop. I know I can't until I finish that run or race," Gordon said.

Over the past year, she competed in the HMK track and field meet and finished first in all seven of her events. She participated in high jump, triple-jump, long jump, 800 metres, 400 metres and the 75-metre sprint.

"I felt so proud of myself, and confident. A lot my friends were congratulating me and that was a great feeling. I was sort of surprised because I didn't think I'd get all firsts. But I noticed I was improving throughout the year," Gordon said.
When Gordon began her training for all the events and her numerous sports she felt like she was a bit out of shape.

"I wasn't as fit as I could be. But being in other sports kept me healthy and fit in different ways. When I switch my sports I feel sore for a few a few days in different areas because I am using different muscles," Gordon said.

All of Gordon's training, including numerous running, stretching and jogging exercises paid off, as not only did she win the HMK track meet events, she also won all seven of them again in the Beautiful Plains School Division track meet.

"It was a great moment. Mrs. Douglas, my gym teacher, helped me a lot with this. She pushes you to the top with your ability and when she does it, she has faith even when I doubt myself. When I won I went over and told her thank you and she said she knew I could do it. I was so thankful she pushed me beyond what I thought I could do, because now I have something to be proud of," Gordon said.

While track and field is a spring sport, during the summer months Gordon swims with the Blue Dolphins, not only to stay fit, but have a bit of fun too.

"I decided to try some competitions recently. I just had a swim meet in Neepawa and I beat all my personal best times," Gordon said.

Gordon received two first places ribbons, two seconds and one third out of the 69 kids that competed.
Her best event was the 50-metre breaststroke finishing with a time of 52.47.
"I like the feeling of water and the adrenaline rush I get when swimming. When we practice, we practice different types of kicks and do separate exercises using isolation of arms or legs. It really makes you stronger," Gordon said.

Gordon is looking forward to junior high-school and continuing her athletic development in track and field, volleyball and hockey and soccer outside of school.
"I want to also be a part of sports that aren't in the schools. Its a different atmosphere and you gain some great things from it," Gordon said.
"Also, I'm looking forward to actually getting to play different schools in competitive volleyball.”

Gordon's determination and drive to keep active and healthy won't stop anytime soon.
"I have always wanted to stay active and healthy. It's best to start when you're young. When I wake up in the morning I'm energetic, not tired and lazy. When I'm older I want to continue to be active instead of just sitting around," Gordon said.
Although sport rules a big part of her life, Gordon said that school is very important to her and she works hard to keep up good grades.

"School is fun, my friends and I play around, but I enjoy taking classes and I take school very seriously," Gordon said.

Gordon keeps her grades in the 90s something her father Yves is very proud of.
"She works hard on everything she does. She is outstanding," Yves said.
Gordon credits her family and parents to helping her achieve all the success she has.

"They help me a lot. The take time for me, help me set time aside for sports, they help me study. They teach me good eating and sleeping patterns. I thank them a lot," Gordon said.

In the future Gordon would love to play on a university sports team when it comes time and she decides what she would like to do.

"Until then I will just keep playing sports. I love it," Gordon said.

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