The 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island is right around the corner, and Portage will be represented well. 

17-year-old Olivia Krynski will be the Manitoban competitor for Judo in the female 63kg division. The PCI student is very proud to be able to represent her province but notes she's feeling a bit of pressure.

"I'm pretty excited. I'm a little bit nervous because everyone else that's gone from the Portage Judo Club has done pretty well there," Krynski explains. "I'm really excited to see the diversity of the different athletes there."

Krynski notes her journey to make Team Manitoba started around this time last year.

"Last year in February-ish I started training with Team Manitoba out in Winnipeg, and I went to a few competitions with them as well," Krynski continues. "Eventually, based on results of how we were training and doing at competitions, they chose who would go."

The martial artist says this will be the biggest event she's taken part in, however, she's competed in a few national tournaments in the past year. 

"I think the mindset of doing the bigger competitions will definitely help with the stress and pressure of the Games. Also, just having the experience of going to the bigger events should help with everything, in general."

Krynski has some high aspirations for the Canada Winter Games but believes she has put in the amount of work necessary to achieve this goal.

"I'd really like to place top three. That's what I'm hoping for but I'd also just like to do well in general and add this to my experiences."

The 17-year-old will put her skills to the test against the best competitors Canada has to offer from March 1-4. For the full Canada Winter Games schedule, click here.

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