By Nolan Kowal, Sport Performance Specialist
We are back with another KidSport Manitoba Q & A!
This week we are featuring one of our newest ambassadors, Tyson Langelaar, a Long Track Speed Skater on Team Canada.
Read on to get to know Tyson and his involvement in the world of sport!
What sports did you play growing up?
I was always the kid in school who took advantage and joined almost every team sport. Since I can remember, I took part in school sports, from basketball, track & field, volleyball to golf.
If you weren’t pursuing your current sport what would you be doing?
I think I would be trying to play another sport at a high level. I’ve always played sports in school so I think if I wasn’t speed skating I would have wanted to pursue volleyball, golf or maybe basketball instead.
What is your favourite sport moment from your career?
It still is my gold medal in the Mass Start at the 2015 Canada Winter Games. It was the first big race that I had ever won up until that point. The feeling was crazy and was even better to have a large supportive Manitoba group in the stands.
What is something you would tell your younger self before you got into your sport?
Have fun with it! You continue a sport because you had fun doing it, so continue to keep it fun. Some days won’t be fun but make sure you limit those days and make the next day fun again.
How has sport shaped your life?
It has shown me that hard work pays off. If you find a passion for something in your life you should stick with it, work hard and you may be successful with it. I have been lucky to travel the world for sport so I have experienced what it is like in Europe and Asia.
What advice would you give to kids who are new to your sport?
Trust your coaches and remember the basics. I’ve been skating for 15 years and whenever I want to work on my technique it usually starts with thinking about the basics and progressing from there.
What is the biggest goal you have achieved in your career?
Winning a medal on the World Cup Circuit. Since I was a kid I’ve dreamed about representing Canada on the world stage and finally made it there. I won a silver medal with my team in the Men’s Team Pursuit in the fall of 2019. It was a moment for me where I realized that I had made it and now I have to set new goals for the future.
How did your amateur career prepare you for your professional career?
I had a lot of knowledgeable coaches and teammates to help guide me in the right direction. I was lucky enough to have two coaches who also competed at a high level to give me advice to prepare for each progression I made.
Who has inspired you throughout your career?
There’s plenty of Canadian speed skaters to look up to but two that have motivated me most are Tyler Williamson Derraugh and Denny Morrison. Tyler coached me and continues to hand me knowledge when asked and Denny has also been a role model growing up and I’m now lucky to call him a friend.
Why did you get involved with KidSport?
I believe sport is extremely powerful. If it wasn’t for sport I wouldn’t have had the opportunities that I’ve had. I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world, compete with the best and now have the chance to influence kids. I want to share my story in sport with kids who love sports like I did. Sports can change kid’s lives and I want to be a part of introducing a kid to a sport they never knew they loved.
Why is KidSport so valuable to Canadian communities?
Canada is very diverse and has a growing community of organized sports. I think it’s great that kids from different areas can grow up together and compete against each other. Kids can learn from others and see what they do differently from what they do. It’s a great way to build confidence and hardwork.
We hope you learned more about Tyson! We are excited to have him on our team of ambassadors to help make an impact in our community, so ALL kids can play! Keep in touch with KidSport Manitoba for more exciting updates we have coming up!
About KidSport Manitoba
KidSport is a national charity administered in Manitoba by Sport Manitoba which provides support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sport. KidSport believes that no kid should be left on the sidelines and all should be given the opportunity to experience the positive benefits of organized sports.
For more information about KidSport Manitoba, please visit our website.
