Sadie McFarlane trains out of the Prince Albert Budokai Karate Club. (Submitted photo)

By Nigel Maxwell

Karate

St. Mary student aims to strike gold at Canada Winter Games

Feb 10, 2023 | 3:58 PM

A young woman who will represent Prince Albert and Saskatchewan at this month’s Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island is a strong contender for a medal.

Sadie McFarlane, 16, is competing in karate.

“I never ever thought this was something I’d be able to do and it’s wonderful. I’m so excited,” she said.

While she has experience competing at both international and national tournaments, McFarlane explained the Canada Winter Games offer a different and unique opportunity in that there are a number of different sports being represented.

“It’s cool to get to be there with everybody, not just karate but other sports too,” she said.

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McFarlane, a second-degree black belt, has been practicing karate since the age of 7. She fondly recalled watching the Karate Kid movies with her dad.

“I watched the movies and then I was replicating the moves they were doing on TV,” she explained. “It was the week after I signed up for karate and I’ve been doing it ever since.

Over the course of the past nine years, McFarlane has accumulated quite the resume. She won gold at 2022 Karate Alberta Provincial Tournament (in kata, forms); won gold at the 2019 International Karate Daigaku National Championship in Saskatoon; and also won bronze in 2018 at the International Karate Daigaku World Cup in Barbados.

When asked what accomplishment stands out the most for her, McFarlane replied her first national championship she attended in Quebec in 2016. She won gold in kata.

“It was the first time I medalled at a tournament so big,” she recalled.

Sadie McFarlane practicing her kata. (Submitted photo)

In Prince Edward Island, McFarlane will compete in kata, which is a detailed choreographed pattern of movements. Competitors are based on technique as well as how well the movements flow together. McFarlane said the reason she loves kata, is that it’s completely you.

“So you just kind of go out there and get in your own head and do your own thing and you don’t have to worry about anyone else,” she said.

Following the Canada Winter Games, McFarlane plans to compete in July at nationals. If she does well, she could earn the opportunity to get onto the national team and compete at more tournaments around the world.

McFarlane’s Sensei in Prince Albert is Chris Lair at the Budokan Karate Club. Lair has known McFarlane since she started in 2015.

“Her athleticism was quickly recognized. Over time it was easy to see she also had a strong work ethic,” he said.

In addition to Lair’s instruction, McFarlane has also travelled to train with many high-ranking instructors. In Quebec, Brad Bearns is the head coach for the TeamSask karate team and is also the Sask. High Performance Karate Association head coach.

“I am proud that she is competing for Saskatchewan at the Canada games and I believe she has the experience and all the right tools to succeed,” Lair said.

Opening day for the games is on Feb. 18 and will go until Mar. 5. A total of 217 athletes and 74 coaches and staff will represent TeamSask.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell