Wyatt Lightfoot came home to Assiniboia as a multiple medal winner after competing in the World Dwarf Games hosted by the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, on August 4-12. The World Dwarf Games is an international sporting event held every four years that is exclusively for athletes with dwarfism.
This year the games were bigger and better than even with 500 athletes participating from 19 different countries. Canada sent a strong team with 58 athletes, which is more than double the number of 25 competing at the last games in 2013. The Canadian team finished just behind Great Britain in second place in the medal count with 41 gold, 39 silver and 25 bronze for a total 105 medals.
Lightfoot played a big part in Canada鈥檚 medal haul. He participated in swimming, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, floor hockey as well as his favourite sport of badminton. He also participated in several track and field events, including javelin, discus and shot put. In swimming, he entered four events and participated in the relay, and won bronze in the 100 individual medly. He won two gold medals in badminton, in singles and doubles.
Lightfoot also clinched spots at the top of the podium in several of the team events. He received a silver medal in the volleyball competition, a silver in basketball, and topped the podium with gold in soccer and floor hockey.
Lightfoot also was selected for the international floor hockey team made up of players who did not have sufficient players for their own floor hockey team. Lightfoot is a keen athlete who is eager to take part in many sports. At 14 years old, he also participated in a powerlifting clinic during the Games, where the starting age is usually 16 years old.
The World Dwarf Games are organized by the International Dwarf Athletic Federation and is a mix of highly competitive and recreational sports for little people of all ages. The Games have three different age categories: ages seven to 11 compete in the junior A group, ages 12-15 years are in the junior B group and the third group is open to ages 16 and up. This will be the seventh time the Games have been held.
In addition to competing in sports, the athletes had an opportunity to meet others from around the world and participate in special events to celebrate international understanding and promote awareness of the dwarf experience worldwide. The athletes had an opportunity to participate in on-site clinics for athletes and sports professionals and meet elite athletes with dwarfism, many of whom have participated in international competitions such as the Parapan Am Games and Paralympics. On the final night, they all had a chance for socializing at the banquet and dance.
