Kia Byers inspires students with talk about life goals

Kia Byers could relate to the wide-eyed elementary school students she addressed and impressed on Monday afternoon.

Once upon a time, she was one of them.

The Regina-born Byers - a 2007 Pan American Games gold medallist in kayaking and an Olympic hopeful for 2012 - vividly recalls being a 10-year-old student at Gladys McDonald School when renowned curler Joan McCusker spoke at an assembly.

McCusker was a member of the Regina-based Sandra Schmirler team that won the Olympic women's curling gold medal in 1998. Her message resonated with Byers.

"My Olympic dream was inspired by Joan McCusker coming to my school and sharing her gold medal,'' Byers said Monday after speaking to 300 students, from grades 4 to 8, at St. Angela Merici School.

"After she came to our school, my goal wasn't, 'I want to be a cowboy.' It became, 'I want to be an Olympian.' If I can do that for even one kid, that is one of the greatest things I can ever imagine.''

Byers, 24, visited the school on behalf of the Esteem Team - a program of Motivate Canada, which focuses on empowering and inspiring youth. Toward that end, Byers spoke to the students about establishing "smart goals.''

There was considerable back-and-forth between Byers and the students for much of the hour-long presentation. Afterwards, many students remained in the gymnasium to ask questions or offer thanks. One student simply requested, and received, a hug.

"All you've got to do with kids is be natural and be yourself, and then you'll be fine,'' St. Angela principal Richard Brown said.

"That's what kids like. That's what they want. Their lives are confusing enough without having to figure out adults.''

Byers' genuine nature was evident when she spoke about the importance of congenial competition.

"One thing that stuck with me was when she talked about how your competitor is your friend,'' Brown said. "You don't bring your ego into it. You bring your passion into it.''

Byers is as passionate about being a positive role model as she is about competing at an elite level. The manner in which the students responded was clearly a source of satisfaction.

"It was surreal,'' said Byers, a member of the Wascana Racing Canoe Club. "I'm still in awe of a lot of people. I don't see myself as someone you would look up to while setting goals. I still look up to people, so it's very flattering.''

Byers has excelled since becoming a sprint kayaker in 2000. In 2007, she won gold and silver medals at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Two years later, she earned a bronze medal at the International Canoe Federation's canoe sprint world championships in Dartmouth, N.S.

In October, Byers was with the Canadian team at the Pan American Games in Mexico, but was unable to compete after suffering a herniated disc in her back. She sustained the injury during a training session in Fort Collins, Colo., shortly before the Canadian contingent left for the Games.

Byers did not recover from the injury in time to compete in the K1 200 metres. Her spot was taken by Emilie Fournel of Lachine, Que. That was the last event at which Byers could have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics in the K1 200m. However, she still hopes to earn a berth on the Olympic team in the K1 500m. That will be determined in April.

Byers resumed working out in late November. Her own "smart goal'' is to be at 100 per cent by Jan. 16, when the Canadian team will begin a training session in Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.

Although she will have to qualify for the Olympics at a different distance than she had anticipated, she remains upbeat. After all, she has been has been among the top three in Canada in the K1 500m since 2007.

"It's not like it's farfetched,'' said Byers, whose progress can be followed on kiabyers.com. "It's a mindset change. It just needed to become my goal.''

Or a "smart goal,'' to use the terminology heard by the St. Angela students, who clearly absorbed and appreciated the message.

"I really liked your presentation,'' one of the students told Byers outside the gymnasium.

"Thank you!'' a beaming Byers responded. "I really enjoyed giving the presentation.''