Running to meet her athletic ambitions
BELLEVILLE – Nicole Flynn doesn’t let anything get in the way of her athletic ambitions.
The 25-year-old student with Down syndrome plays a number of different sports. She competes in speed swimming, synchronized swimming, sailing and cross country. She has joined Loyalist college’s cross country team for the first time this year. She trains with the team three times a week in the school fitness centre and practices running on the school grounds. Flynn runs between four and seven kilometres when she is training.
Flynn joined the team for a few reasons. She said that she uses the training to improve her dexterity and stamina. The team provides her with encouragement and support in her athletics. She also feels that cross country incorporates her love of nature into athletics.
“I am a nature child so I love being in nature and I am born to be wild,” Flynn said.
Flynn’s cross country season started the first week of the semester and goes until the end of October. Her first competitive race of the season will be at the Seneca Sting Invitational meet in Toronto this Saturday. A race was held Sept. 16 at Fanshawe college in London, but it was described by the team as a fun run. Last Saturday’s meet at Fleming College was cancelled due to safety concerns about an overgrown track.
“I am feeling confident about it and I think I can do the best of my capability,” said Flynn as she looked forward to the race.
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