B次元官网网址淲hat got you here, wonB次元官网网址檛 get you there.B次元官网网址�
When Sara KaljuveeB次元官网网址檚 body tells her to stop, she remembers the mantra. When she wants to hit snooze after her 6 a.m. alarm signals the start of another gruelling training regimen with the Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 sevens rugby team in Langford, she remembers the mantra. When her body is hurting so bad she wants to stop, she remembers her mother, Lynn.
B次元官网网址淚n Grade 7, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was re-diagnosed with bone cancer when I was in Grade 11 and during my second year of university, she was diagnosed with brain cancer,B次元官网网址� an emotional Kaljuvee says.
LynnB次元官网网址檚 condition was eventually deemed terminal and a second brain surgery followed in the spring of 2014. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a challenging journey for the entire family, including SaraB次元官网网址檚 father Gary and siblings Emily and Conner. It has also served as motivation for the nationally carded rugby athlete to follow her dream.
In August of 2014, the award-winning player from Ajax, Ont. showed up at the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence. Then 20, she had two suitcases with all her worldly possessions and a goal to represent Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
B次元官网网址淢y mom is the reason why I want to succeed and one of the reasons why I want to go to the Olympics,B次元官网网址� Kaljuvee says. B次元官网网址淪he would say, B次元官网网址榙onB次元官网网址檛 worry I am fighting until I see you on that team.B次元官网网址� She is my inspiration. ItB次元官网网址檚 hard being away from her, but she says she is proud of me B次元官网网址� that is why I am here.B次元官网网址�
One of 22 women based in Greater Victoria who train six days a week, six hours a day, she is battling to be one of 12 players selected to travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next year. The training is gruelling and the competition tough, especially so on a sevens squad considered one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 few team medal hopefuls for 2016.
B次元官网网址淟iterally, the Olympics and gold have been my dreams forever,B次元官网网址� Kaljuvee says. B次元官网网址淭his job is basically everything to me; I canB次元官网网址檛 see myself doing anything but being on this team. It would mean a lot to (my mom as well). When she was still mobile B次元官网网址� she came out to watch me play. I just remember hugging her and bawling my eyes out. It was the best moment.B次元官网网址�
Her experience with family health challenges has been exacerbated by physical challenges of her own as she competes hard for a 2016 roster spot. She suffered an Achilles tendon injury that left her on the sideline for months last season, and a recent finger injury that cost her an opportunity to play in a tournament in Brazil.
Financial troubles, including a looming $15,000 student loan B次元官网网址� sheB次元官网网址檚 on deadline to repay it following a decision to leave school mid-program to pursue rugby B次元官网网址� has further complicated the most important training year of her life.
Despite KaljuveeB次元官网网址檚 off-field challenges, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby sevens head coach John Tait says her determination has been inspiring.
B次元官网网址淚t is not something she talks too much about,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淲e are aware of it because we are a close knit group, (but) you would never guess it by her demeanour. She is a great teammate and great athlete. She has definitely had tough days, way tougher than most, but she never lets that effect her. We call her an energizer, and it speaks volumes to her character and personality.B次元官网网址�
Watching the Olympics with her parents as a child, Kaljuvee says she knew she wanted nothing more than to represent Canada on the world stage one day. When she found rugby, a switch flipped, she says, and despite her success so far, she knows the effort to this point will need to be raised to get her to Rio.
B次元官网网址淢y mom once said, B次元官网网址業 am so proud of you, you will do so many good things.B次元官网网址� This is one of those good things,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淪he is battling everything, literally from head to toe every day. If she can fight in the hospital I can definitely fight on the rugby field.B次元官网网址�
alim@goldstreamgazette.com
How to help out
B次元官网网址� National womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby athlete Sara KaljuveeB次元官网网址檚 story is told on her gofundme campaign page. If youB次元官网网址檇 like to help her get through the challenges sheB次元官网网址檚 facing right now with a donation, visit for more information.
