Kennedy Charles, competitive speed skater, was one of 15 people to be chosen to carry the torch for the Canada Summer Games in Brandon.
“It’s pretty exciting to run with everyone and be able to hold the torch,” says Charles.
Jul. 20th, Charles will carry the torch and run a portion of the total ceremonial run. The torch run starts at the Sportsplex in Brandon, with 15 runners covering a 5.36 km run around the city.
Charles, only 16, has been speed skating for seven years. She trains with the Westman Speed Skating Club from Brandon, and in Winnipeg with the Manitoba Provincial speed skating team. Charles is one of the few speed skaters that competes in both short and long track races.
Charles in the past couple years has moved up from Age Class into the Junior 14-20 year old group, so Charles often competes against older speed skaters, and in some meets with skaters such as former Olympian Shannon Rempel.
When asked why she likes speed skating Charles said, “I really like how when you put in all the effort to learn the techniques, you get results.” She added that she enjoys competing and working to improve her skills and time.
This past spring, The Olympic Oval High Performance Pathway Program offered Charles a chance to train full time at the Calgary Olympic Oval in Calgary. The opportunity was greatly appreciated and an honour for Charles. However, as young as she is, she has chosen to stay in Virden but will travel to Calgary to train as often as she can.
Charles has travelled to many places for speed skating competitions, and in the past three years has competed in Western Canadian Championships in Short Track and National Junior Championships in Long Track. She also competes in the Western Canadian Elite Short Track Series and the Long Track Canada Cup series, in places such as Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, and Richmond BC. Trips to Quebec City and Minneapolis to compete also have been a part of her adventures.
Charles won a Gold medal for short track provincials in Selkirk this year. She also received the Le Grand Diseau award this year presented by The Manitoba Speed Skating Association, this award is given to “a skater who is a good ambassador and leader for the sport, has a positive attitude, and strong work ethic.”
This season Charles will compete in the Western Canadian Elite Race Series in Short Track in Calgary and Richmond, BC. She will race in November in an attempt to qualify for the Canadian Junior Short Track Championships in Calgary for December; and will compete in the Canadian Junior Long Track Championships in Fort St. John B.C. in late January. This summer Charles will head to Calgary as well as Milwaukee, Wisconsin for training camps.
Competing in the 2019 Canada Winter Games for Manitoba is one of Charles's many goals.
K. Kilford Construction Ltd. Of Virden sponsored short and long track skates for Charles and she is always looking for new sponsorship.
