When Laurie Sokolowski returns to Dawson City in September she will be bringing three medals along with her.

Earlier this, the Yukoner made history, becoming the first disabled athlete to represent the territory at the 2009 Canadian Table Tennis Championships, held in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

Sokolowski is a wheelchair athlete, who, at this year's table tennis nationals won a pair of bronze medals and one gold. She has lived in the Yukon for the past two years.

Her result at the Canadian championship was on par with a three-medal international performance a few years back (one silver and two bronze).

Each medal at the 2009 nationals had a special significance for Sokolowski. The gold was won in the Open Para Wheelchair Doubles Division with Ontario athlete Barry Butler, who taught her how to play wheelchair table tennis.

"It's almost a completely different game because there's more strategy and placement involved," Sokolowski said. "There's still power, but because you are not back at the same distance and not standing at the same height, it's not the same game."

Her first bronze came in the Open Wheelchair Single event, and Sokolowski also placed third overall in the Women's 50-plus event, opened to both disabled and able-bodied players.

Sokolowski said if she had to pick a highlight it would be the winning gold with Butler.

"Not so much because it was a gold medal; it was because I was playing with people I knew really well, so we really enjoyed it for one thing," she said. "We laughed and enjoyed everything."

This was Sokolowski's second gold medal at the nationals.

Sokolowski resides in Ontario for the summer months and plans to begin driving back to Dawson in September, adding she is looking forward to getting back to the Yukon.

"I've been telling my friends the north wind is starting to tug at us."

At the nationals she handed out a number of Dawson City pins, which were a popular memento to both officials and players.

Sokolowski said when she first arrived to Dawson a couple of years ago she put the word out that she needed people to train with and she now has a list of about 20 people to practice with.

Dawson's local curling club also helped out by allowing a table to be set up in its facility.

Sokolowski is a member of the Canadian Para Table Tennis Team.