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October 07th 2016, Fort Providence – 2014 AWG Table Tennis Athlete Fiona Huang and 2016 AWG Table Tennis Athlete Jacqueline Larocque competed at the 2016 NWT Cross Country Run in Fort Providence. Fiona roled her ankle during the race and could not compete at her best, like she did in 2015 when she won the gold medal. Jacqueline on the other hand was in good form, with a big smile on her face and ended up with a Silver Medal in her hands.

We had some questions for both Athletes.

How do you feel? Was it fun?

Jacqueline: It felt awesome I had a lot of fun. I wish I could do it again next year I feel like I could have put in a better time at the end. But I feel as I did great, my first year since grade 7 and I got second. I had only trained for about 2-3 days a week for about 2 weeks. So I am pretty proud of my progress that run.

Fiona: I actually didn’t do that good because I rolled my ankle . 

Was it as hard running Cross Country than it was playing Table Tennis in Greenland?

Jacqueline: No there is no multitasking involved. I didn’t have to focus on anything else but my legs and positive mind to keep going. Where as table tennis there is a bit more to be aware of; the other opponent and how they will play, your body and which way you will go, and trying to keep up hope for the rest of the match

What is harder, running a Cross Country Run or playing Table Tennis at the Arctic Winter Games?

Fiona: Hmmm table tennis I think. hHha running is easier for me!

Do you still play table tennis from time to time?

Jacqueline: Every so often. Not as much as I did for training for the Arctic Winter Games. But it’s fun to just do a game here and there with some friends.

Fiona: Yes I did play this year haha ! Just at lunch and little fun games with my schoolmates. Depends on the match, but sometimes I “kicked some butt”.

What else are you up too lately?

Jacqueline: I go to the gym or I run. Lately I have been doing quite a bit of Volleyball. Last year of high school I better make it count by motivation and progress on my athleticism. School, work, and my health is my main thing right now.

Fiona: Just busy with school.

UP HERE Magazine came to Fort Providence to do some research on an editorial piece about Table Tennis in the Hamlet. The story should be in the December issue of the magazine.

A big thank you to Elaine for coming out and being part of our community!!!

UP HERE magazine WEBSITE and FACEBOOK page

A Yellowknife table tennis enthusiast is proving it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

Sixty-one year old retiree Paul Devitt recently returned home from a professional table tennis training camp in Hungary.

“I really just want to be the best that I can be,” Devitt says.

He trained six hours a day to get in shape before travelling to Hungary last month. He spent two weeks at the Hungarian training camp, getting tips from some of Europe’s top coaches.

…

Table Tennis North is taking part of the “Team NWT YOU CAN PLAY Video Initiative” by Sport North.

“You Can Play is about respect,” said Sport North’s Spider Jones, who is coordinating the initiative. “It’s about respect for athletes, and coaches and fans, regardless of sexual orientation.

“The message is simple: it’s about welcoming LGBTQ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning] athletes to sport,” he said. “Making it safe for athletes to participate. It’s what they can bring to sport, not based on their sexual orientation.”

GO Team NWT GO!!! — with Thor S Ten, Tamara Jovic, Ollie Williams and Brian Liang.