It's been 8 years since the last Saskatchewan Summer Games and athletes throughout the southeast are amped to be back to compete.
"I'm excited for the swimmers. I mean, this is a great opportunity for them. It's not something that comes around often. It's actually been eight years since we've actually had the swimming competition, so there's a lot of new faces, a lot of rookies in a way. So, we're just kind of all navigating it together," shared Erin Wilson, the southeast district's swimming head coach.
Teams throughout the province have been practicing for weeks leading up to the event, and the swimmers are no exception. The team had just come off a provincial swim meet last week, which boasted great scores for some of the swimmers. Wilson noted that while the team is ready to compete, there are some nervousness lingering for the athletes heading into Saskatchewan's biggest week of competitions.
"Everyone's excited because, of course, it's just such a great opportunity. They're proud of themselves, as they should be, to be selected to be representing the southeast district. And then, with that always comes a bit of nerve. So we're we're going to be mastering those as they dive off those blocks."
Coach Wilson has been a part of different swimming competitions as a coach in the past. She passed along some advice to the swimmers heading into the Games. "I think my biggest piece of advice is to go out there and just take in every moment that you can. It doesn't happen again, so take a breath [and] rejoice the fact you're there and just celebrate it."
Swimming competitions in the Saskatchewan Summer Games were last held in the same pool Wilson is training some of the athletes - the RM of Estevan Aquatic Centre on Souris Avenue. Estevan played host to the previous Games in 2016. Now, athletes from all over the province will be making their way to Lloydminster next week to participate in the biggest week of competitions, starting July 21.