Lethbridge Herald

Three times the skill

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training regiment that will allow him to tackle whatever is thrown his way.

“It changes day-to-day. But typically I’ll work out before school or during the morning and then go to school and work out after,” said Wood. “I normally do two discipline­s a day, like a swim and a bike or swim and a run. Or sometimes a bike and a run together, backto-back to simulate a triathlon.”

As a student, there is also the challenge of balancing his studies as well.

“It’s just effective time management. The school has been really great with letting me move schedules, same with my teachers. Missing so much school it’s manageable.”

“I think it's a challenge for a high school student, especially triathlon,” added Kevin. “You’re training three very different events and they’re all endurance events. But the skill level for all three is very different. I think it’s a constant struggle for him. There is lots he gives up in his life to have made it into this and keep going. But to balance his studies and balance training and other responsibi­lities, I am in awe of how he’s done it.”

Wood’s family has also been key players in helping him reach the Youth Olympics and his father, mother Paige and sister, Maya will join him in Buenos Aires.

“He (Kevin) helps me out, for sure, with different things,” said Wood. “My whole family, definitely. My sister (Maya) helps me out with work and the same with my mom (Paige).”

As the sole Canadian at the Youth Olympic Games, Kevin noted his son’s preparatio­n was done solo.

“He trains so much on his own and doesn’t really have a community of triathlete­s in the south, to watch him be able to head to Buenos Aires and represent Canada, that’s humbling and a privilege, and he feels that way. So for me as his dad and his principal, it’s cool to watch our kids excel.”

Now, it has landed Wood his first trip to a Youth Olympic Games.

“First off, I’m just there to enjoy it, it’s a pretty crazy experience. I feel like my training has put me in a spot where I can be competitiv­e and see what happens from there.”

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 ?? Herald photo by Ian Martens ?? Solen Wood, a Grade 12 student at Chinook High School, will be competing in triathlon at the Youth Olympic Games next week in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Herald photo by Ian Martens Solen Wood, a Grade 12 student at Chinook High School, will be competing in triathlon at the Youth Olympic Games next week in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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