To Yukon athletes,

The holiday season, for me at least, has always been a time to reflect on the good and bad of the year, while spending it with people you love and cherish.

It goes without saying that this has not been an easy year for anybody. But, I feel it is necessary to give you your props. Your dedication, resilience, and perseverance should be applauded and recognized.

As athletes, you have lost a lot of opportunities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Obviously, you lost the 2020 Arctic Winter Games and the chance to perform in front of a home crowd. And of course, your individual sports cancelled their provincials and nationals or any other tournament where your skills could have been put on display.

That is not easy to bear, but you did, and you’ve continued to push forward – be proud of that.

Tracey Bilsky, Sport Yukon’s executive director, said she is amazed at the positivity she has seen from you athletes.

“They are not feeling sorry for themselves,” she said. “In sports, you have to learn to roll with the punches and grow resilience. That has been on display, even more, this year.

“They keep training and still have goals even if they don’t know when the next opportunity will come.”

It may be difficult to see now, but this will help you grow as athletes and as people. Your chance is coming.

Learning to love practice and training is a skill and one you will carry with you throughout the rest of your athletic career.

“You have to train hard when no one is watching,” added Bilsky. “If you keep going, you will be heads and tails above the rest.”

Training isn’t always supposed to be fun. Hammering out the details of one skill can be monotonous and sometimes infuriating, but it will be worth it. The best you practice is the worst you will perform.

When you can to get back to competing, you will appreciate it that much more. Training is supposed to be difficult, competition is when the fun comes in.

“I think they will appreciate it when they go back, there will be a gratefulness,” said Bilsky. “The thrill of competition is hard to replicate.

“If you are able to realize this while in your competitive career it will keep you pushing as long as you can.”

The light at the end of the tunnel is nearing, this is not the time to rest on your laurels, but the time to get excited. Keep up the hard work.

Athletes across Canada are doing the same thing and you’ll have a leg up if you keep training hard. Hold onto your goals and keep striving toward them, because if not you, someone else will achieve them.

Bilsky said don’t use COVID as an excuse but just see it as a barrier.

“A barrier you can work around,” she said. “Be ready.”

Sports are powerful. They build character, community, and lifelong friendships; they teach us how to be gracious in victory and defeat; they teach us to work hard and build toward our dreams – the list could go on much longer.

Again, be proud of yourselves that you haven’t lost sight of this, there are positives to come out of the pandemic.

When the time comes to compete on the bigger stages again you’ll be ready. And I can’t wait to tell the stories of your triumphs.

Have a safe and wonderful holiday.

One more thought from Bilsky.

“Organizations have done such a great job to work out plans and work within guidelines. I’m really impressed. They will come out stronger.”