Team NT has selected Tony Shi to carry the Northwest Territories flag at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Canada Games in St John’s.
The NWT is sending athletes in athletics, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball (beach and indoor) and wrestling to the games, which run from August 8-25.
Shi, who moved from China to Yellowknife as a young child and has since become a central figure in the territory’s swim team, will lead out the NWT contingent at the opening ceremony from 3:30pm MT on Saturday, August 9.
“Tony has shown remarkable improvement over the past year and consistently rises to meet every challenge, embodying the spirit Team NT hopes to bring to St John’s in the weeks ahead,” Team NT stated in a press release.
“When I was young, I was back in China and tried team sports like soccer and basketball,” Shi was quoted as saying.
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“But I wanted to prove to other people that I can do things by myself, so I joined swimming. When I moved to Canada I joined this amazing club in Yellowknife, I really liked it, and now I’m swimming every single day.”
NWT swimming technical director Jane Mooney said Shi “showed a passion beyond his years” when he arrived at the Yellowknife club at the age of 10, and now works as a lifeguard to raise the money to pay for his sport.
“I’m so proud of my team and Tony for leading the team into the Canada Games,” Mooney said.
Editor’s note: The author of this article is also serving as Team NT’s volunteer media liaison for the 2025 Canada Games. Cabin Radio will carry reports from St John’s throughout the two weeks.
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