The Canada Summer Games kicked off Friday in Sherbrooke, Que. and after nearly a week of competition, Saskatchewan has won three medals.
Sam Ryan, a 14-year-old swimmer from the Saskatoon Goldfins Swim Club, won one gold and two silver medals in para swimming events.
The medals put Saskatchewan in seventh place overall. Ontario is currently running away in the standings with 41 medals. Alberta and Quebec sit second with 25 each. Ontario also has a large lead in gold medals with 22 to Quebec's eight as of Wednesday morning.
The games are still in the early stages and the standings could change dramatically. Next week marks the beginning of the canoe-kayak, athletics, diving, fencing, golf, rowing and triathlon events.
Among the athletes preparing for the week two events is Mikaela York. She is one of only two athletes competing from the Battlefords. The other is swimmer Lindsay Reimer.
York will be taking part in the female 2,000 metre steeplechase Aug. 13.
She was named to Team Saskatchewan two weeks ago as an injury replacement. York didn't do well at the Canada Games trials because she had an allergic reaction to antibiotics.
"It's one of those once in a lifetime experiences, so it was really exciting," said York.
Overcoming the sickness was nothing compared to the struggles she faced the last two years.
In 2011, York underwent reconstructive surgery after injuring her ACL playing basketball.
"I wouldn't have been able to see myself doing hurdles and stuff, so I'm pretty happy that I can do that," she said.
It took four months after surgery before York could run, but she was still far from 100 per cent.
"A year after surgery I was still not able to train at my full potential because the pounding would just irritate the ligaments too much," said York.
"I was worried that she might not [run competitively], that it would be too much to have that whole knee injury," said Mikaela's dad and coach, Stuart York. "It's an exciting time and I'm really happy for her."
Eighteen-year-old Mikaela's recovery also earned her a scholarship. She will be going to Lethbridge College next year to run on the school's cross-country and track teams.
"I've coached her, but she hasn't had any training partners. So, going to a college now, I think that's going to be excellent for her, help develop her even more as an athlete," said Stuart.
Mikaela will be Sherbrooke bound Saturday as she waits for Tuesday's competition.
