Cambridge Bay wrestler wins 1st gold for Nunavut at Canada Summer Games

Cambridge Bay wrestler Eekeeluak Avalak circled the mat flying his Nunavut flag after changing into the primary Nunavut athlete ever to win a gold medal on the Canada Summer time Video games.

His mom, Wendy Kootoo-Wooden, has been streaming her son’s matches on-line from her dwelling in B.C. as he competes for Group Nunavut. 

“We’re so happy with him. It simply chokes me up and understanding he’ll make historical past for Nunavut on the Canada Summer time Video games right here. I am simply so happy with his accomplishments,” mentioned Kootoo-Wooden.

Avalak, 18, was extensively anticipated to win a medal in the course of the Video games underway in Niagara Falls. He gained his semifinal match Thursday morning by pinfall. He went up in opposition to Alberta’s Fred Calingay Thursday afternoon, ending the match on factors, 10-1. 

“It has been a pleasure to look at. Regardless that it is simply on dwell stream, I imply, it made me choke up. My coronary heart’s been racing and I am simply so happy with his accomplishments,” his mom mentioned. 

Avalak is now the second Nunavut athlete to win a medal on the Canada Video games. The primary was Eugene Dedrick, who gained bronze in judo on the Canada Winter Video games in Whitehorse in 2007. 

Kootoo-Ward mentioned her son has travelled earlier than with wrestling and is a “hundred per cent devoted” and a “pure at it.”

“Wrestling saved his life,” mentioned Kootoo-Wooden.

“He was going the flawed path, and he discovered his ardour and wrestling saved him. I am so grateful for his teammates and his coaches’ dedication to him and the help they’ve for him.”

After successful his match, Avalak ran over to hug his coach, Chris Crooks, who introduced 40 years of wrestling expertise to the western Nunavut neighborhood of about 1,700 when he moved there in 2015.

Kootoo-Wooden mentioned her son desires to grow to be a UFC fighter, or to open up his personal health club to assist any youth who’re troubled and need to change their lives round.

“He desires to provide again,” she mentioned.

Kootoo-Wooden mentioned seeing her son at this stage of competitors has her smiling from ear to ear.

His household and associates are very happy with him, she mentioned.

“I do know his late brother’s watching over him and cheering him on. I imply, that is all about his late brother [who] he devoted these video games to.”