NANAIMO — Twenty local athletes from Nanaimo and the central island are participating in the BC Winter Games in Vernon.
The opening ceremonies took place on Thursday March 23 with events scheduled between March 24-26.
Judo is the sport with the most mid island competitors with nine athletes involved.
Mentor and apprentice coach Cheyenne Fiandor is excited medals have have already come for members of the Nanaimo Judo Club.
“We’re hoping to bring home a fairly large amount of medals for the women’s team and also individually. We’re aspiring for a gold medal in the team competition.”
Lantzville’s John Kruger took home gold in his under 66 kilogram event.
There were three silver medals in different weight classes for Ezekiel Moes, Sayjah Vieaux and Kipling Szasz.
Clare Boulding won a bronze medal in her under 52 kilo category.
Six locals are taking part in the skiing competition.
Tessa Bell and Piper Graaten are Grade 8 students in the alpine racing event.
Grace Bell, who is attending the games as a chaperone, said Tessa and Piper have been skiing together for a long time.
“They are second year U14 racers for the Mount Washington Ski Club. The girls have been training together since they were five years old.”
Lia Russell from Nanaimo is also competing the alpine skiing category.
In freestyle skiing Nanaimo’s Torin Ford and Parkville’s Spencer Jordan and Samantha Luksay will take to the slopes at Silver Star mountain.
Damion Cathrine and Tegan Havas are the local karate athletes in attendance with the competition slated for all three days of the Winter Games.
Results have come in already for Bellaku Caleb in artistic gymnastics with a 20th place all around finish.
John Yan recorded a seventh place result in men’s juvenile figure skating.
Nanaimo’s Kiana Jankovic is playing for Vancouver Island Zone 6 in badminton.
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