聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Twelve-year-old Carter Morrison of Carlyle has helped lead Team Canada into the opening ceremonies at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, led Saskatchewan's Olympians into the province's Legislature and has been both a representative and a resident of Ronald McDonald Houses throughout the three prairie provinces. Now he has embraced a new challenge- instead of acting as an ambassador on the world, national and provincial stages, he'll compete in multiple athletic events as a member of Team Canada at the upcoming 7th World Dwarf Games, held August 5-12 in Guelph, Ontario.聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 really can't wait to and be a part of Team Canada,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd compete against people like me and to see about my abilities.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The games in Guelph will welcome competitors 鈥渇rom ages four to 99鈥� from around the world. In addition to the Team Canada contingent- of which Carter is a member- teams from Australia, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the UK, the USA, Spain and Switzerland and others will compete at the event, which is held every four years.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The World Dwarf Games is the largest sporting event in history exclusively for athletes with dwarfism, welcoming short-statured athletes with the condition to compete in events and categories within their own age groups and in open categories.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Carter- who was born with achondroplasia- is competing in both categories and in the following events: badminton (singles and doubles), boccia (team and singles), basketball, archery, marksmanship, soccer, floor hockey, running (60 metres, individual and relay), discus, shot put, javelin, volleyball, table tennis and kurling (in which rocks with wheels are used).
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 know, it's just crazy,鈥� laughs Carter. 鈥淢y mom was asking me what sports I was going to do and there's 14 different sports!鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Although some of his fellow competitors are elite athletes who have competed in the Paralympic Games and the Parapan Am Games, Carter is relishing the chance to compete on a level playing field among his peers and is already training in preparation for the Games.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚'm most excited about badminton, basketball and floor hockey,鈥� he says. 鈥淚'm eating healthy and watching what I eat and I've started going to Mr. (Colin) Wilson's fitness classes at school three times a week.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淗e has us doing burpees, push-ups, planking, wall sits and a lot more stuff,鈥� adds Carter. 鈥淗e's really got us working on our core and endurance.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽 鈥淚t's going to be all little people, so it'll be fun, but I really want to see about my abilities.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Carter first heard about the Games via a friend- and now, fellow competitor.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淢y friend Wyatt from Wilcox has the same condition as me,鈥� he says. 鈥淗e's a little person and his mom told my mom about the Games.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎s soon as I heard about it, I knew I wanted to go and compete,鈥� says Carter. 鈥淚t will be like the Olympics because there will be a lot of socializing- not just sports- and I want to meet some new friends. But it will be different this time, too. This time, I want to go there to have fun and to compete, but I also want to win.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Three family members are confirmed as Carter's cheering section in Guelph. His dad Trevor, mom Lisa and sister Makenna are going and have also all applied to be volunteers at the event. His brother Mitchell also hopes to attend.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭his will be a learning experience for all of us,鈥� says Lisa. 鈥淔or Carter, it will be a good experience. He'll see and compete against athletes of all different levels and he'll see where he fits in and it will help him see what he's capable of.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚'm really excited,鈥� says Carter. 鈥淎nd hopefully, I win!鈥�
