After 6 medals, Katarina Roxon says winning Parapan Am races 'never gets old'
Parapan Am athlete, 22, is bringing her 6 medals home after final race Friday evening
A swimmer from Kippens has been blazing through her races at the Parapan Am Games in Toronto this week.
Katarina Roxon, 22, has a total of six medals to her name as of Friday evening — one gold, three silver and two bronze.
Earlier this week, Roxon said the competitive racing at events like the Parapan Am Games is still a thrill.
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"It never gets old, it's still really exciting," she told CBC's On The Go Thursday afternoon.
I'm just really enjoying it, enjoying how my life is turning out to be.- Katarina Roxon
However, Roxon said even she's surprised at how well she's doing. So far, she's competed in only one event in which she didn't take home a medal and there's one more event left to go.
"I was just looking forward to by 100 (metre) breaststroke, that's my best one, and I was just going to give it my best for the other events. I surprised myself for sure," said Roxon.
Podium with these amazing ladies! <a href="https://twitter.com/AurelieRivard">@AurelieRivard</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParapanAm?src=hash">#ParapanAm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TO2015?src=hash">#TO2015</a> <a href="http://t.co/AvRkO3Fuqw">pic.twitter.com/AvRkO3Fuqw</a>
—@Katarina_Roxon"I'm still going best times in all my races and I'm so happy for it."
According to Roxon, having the games hosted in Canada has been a big perk and spurred her on.
"The crowd is there for you, cheering for you, cheering on Team Canada," she said. "They all want you to do well and they want you to get on the podium and that definitely pumps you up."
Fierce competition
However, it's her fellow athletes — and competition from the other countries — that have been inspiring her.
"They're giving it their all and they're doing amazing at it, as well. I commend the other girls on their hard work and everything they're putting into this, they're definitely putting up a fight, and I think that's great," she said.
Thank you so much for the kind words <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulDavisNL">@PaulDavisNL</a>! I can feel the love pouring out of NL and into TO for me! Thank you all for the support!!
—@Katarina_Roxon"I love competing, I'm a competitive person myself as it is ever since I was little and to be able to compete with these girls and seeing their drive, as well, it's amazing."
Roxon first began competitive swimming in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001 in Gander. She joined the national swimming team in 2012.
"Ever since then it's just been a pretty great time and I'm just really enjoying it, enjoying how my life is turning out to be."
Wants to coach kids
Roxon may be from a small community in western Newfoundland, but she said there are lots of athletes to keep an eye on from her hometown.
I was just going to give it my best for the other events. I surprised myself for sure.- Katarina Roxon
"Every town has something amazing about it and definitely I love my town so much, we do have a lot of athletes — great athletes that come out of Kippens and the Stephenville area," she said.
"Like Jillian Forsey, she's killing it down in the U.S. going to school and she's doing amazing in her running and I love it — it's so great."
She's been enjoying her competition in Toronto this summer, but said she's hoping to pursue her certification as a swim coach. Roxon is currently the assistant coach at the Stephenville swim team, alongside the head coach: her father.
"I love coaching kids. It's so satisfying and I love it so much," said Roxon.
"We had one of the girls on the team, she had cerebral palsy and it was two years ago I taught her how to dive off a diving board and I busted into tears. It was so exciting to see her actually do it and she was so happy, it was so thrilling."