MVP WINNER
Emily Quarton - Weightlifting

I train as an Olympic style Weightlifter five to six times a week and coach gymnastics ten to twelve hours a week. I am seldom in the bleachers and often in the game!

I started gymnastics as after school care in grade 1 and it soon turned into something I enjoyed and continued to enjoy for the next 10 years. I started coaching gymnastics about 4 years ago because it was a way to make money while doing something I liked, and because I liked working with kids. I now coach recreational athletes as well as a group of Pre Competitive girls.

I am currently working on both my Level 1 and 2 coaching certifications, having taken both the theory and technical courses necessary for both levels. In my role as a gymnastics coach I encourage children, mostly girls, from one year old to 12 years old to become active and strong and confident. Gymnastics, as a sport, is also an incredible fitness base for any athlete.

Although I always enjoyed training as a gymnast, I never liked competing. Two years ago, my gymnastics coach and friend persuaded me to try Olympic Style Weightlifting. I was reluctant, afraid other weight lifters would be there watching. However, after a few months of training I was asked if I wanted to compete in a fun competition in White Rock BC. I figured that competing in this very different sport might be fun, and it would mean a trip outside the Yukon! I loved it! Although I still become very nervous at competitions I am able to use my nervous energy to lift more and more weight. Competing has come to mean travel, meeting new people and, best of all, the actual competition!

Weightlifting is a sport that requires all round fitness, a great amount of training, dedication and discipline. It also requires athletes to be both physically and mentally strong. I try to be a good example to other athletes in the Yukon by training clean (substance free) and I also encourage younger girls to become strong and participate in a sport that women can now participate in in the Olympics.

The past year and a half, since I began competing, has been very exciting. In January 2001, I won a gold medal at the Junior Canadian Weightlifting Championships in Winnipeg. In March 2001 I won a silver medal at the Western Canadian Weightlifting Championships, also in Winnipeg, where I also received the award for the Best Junior Female lifter. This fall I was named the Yukon Weightlifting Athlete of the year and received a Yukon Government Award of Excellence for my gold medal at the Junior National Weightlifting Competition.

My current goals are to qualify for the Senior Canadian Weightlifting Championships this spring and to place in the top 5 at this competition. My long term goals is to represent Canada at the Junior and Senior World Weightlifting Championships. I also intend to continue coaching gymnastics and to complete my Level 2 certification as a gymnastics coach.

I feel that I demonstrate determination and commitment by continuing to work as a gymnastics coach and train as a weightlifter as well as doing the school work necessary to graduate from grade 12 this June. It takes discipline to get everything done!

I think I encourage girls to be involved in sport and physical activity by continuing to coach gymnastics and by being a positive role model to the children I coach. In addition, training as a weightlifter shows young gymnasts another sport they can participate in after they finish doing gymnastics. I think that these days it is important to a lot of girls to know they can be strong and can accomplish anything they work hard to do. I feel being a girl shouldn’t hold you back from anything and I try to help the athletes I work with feel the same way.

On January 26th, 2002 I lifted in North Bay, Ontario at the 2002 Junior Canadian Weightlifting Championships and won a gold medal in my weight class. My coach and I were able to travel all that way thanks to the Nike and CAAWS Grant! I thank you for your help and support!!

Emily Quarton

* Quitters never win and winners never quit!!! *

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