Q&A with Regina swimmer Nataliia Kolesova
REGINA, Saskatchewan —聽
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: My name is Nataliia Kolesova, but most people call me Nata. I am 20 years old and currently attending the University of Regina majoring in Human Kinetics. Originally from Ukraine, I moved to Regina in 2015 with my parents and a younger brother. Regina was a perfect place for us to start a new life, it was big enough to have anything we wanted but also quiet enough with a little bit of a small town vibe.
Q: What sports do you compete in? How/why did you get started?
A: My main sport growing up was speed swimming. Shortly after moving to Canada and Regina I decided to take a break from swimming and did other recreational sports to keep in shape. My dad and I ran the QCM half marathon is 2015 and 2016 and that is when I seriously started to consider coming back to competitive sports. I wanted a different challenge and decided to try triathlon. I googled triathlon clubs in Regina and decided to join the Regina Multisport Youth Club led by Brendan Mackenzie. Ever since the fall of 2016 I have been training and competing in triathlon on a national and international level. I am also part of the University of Regina Cougars Swim Team, this fall will be my third year on the team! In the off-season months when triathlons do not take place I race in cross country and track running.
Q: What type of achievements have you accomplished already?
A: My biggest achievement from my swimming years is the U12 National Championship that I won back in Ukraine. I competed in multiple events but ended up winning the 200 butterfly event. In my first year as a triathlete, I made the 2017 Canada Summer Games and placed 12th in the individual race. I was the provincial junior champion in 2018 and 2019. In 2019 I also travelled to Monterrey, Mexico to represent Canada at the PanAmerican Junior Championships. As part of team Saskatchewan, I have also won the 2019 Junior Mixed Team Relays title in Edmonton!
Q: What is your goal in the sport/sports?
A: My ultimate goal in short course triathlon racing is competing professionally and representing Canada at the Olympic Games. A few more proximate goals for me are winning a medal at the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagra, Ontario and qualifying for the U23 World Championships. I also admire the long course side of triathlon and would love to compete in IRONMAN racing as well.
Q: What do you love about the sport/sports?
A: What I love most about triathlon, and endurance sports in general, is the community. The people in the sport are amazing and although we are all chasing different goals, whether it be Olympic Games or just getting to the finish line we all work just as hard and get to compete in the same races on the same course, sometimes even starting side by side. Being considerably new to the sport of triathlon I still remember how welcoming everyone was and how I was made to feel at home at any practice or race that I went to. Another thing I love about triathlon is the variety of disciplines. Coming from full time swimming, switching into a sport where you have three disciplines was so refreshing. You never get bored as you are always doing something different, whether it be swimming, cycling, running or even lifting weights at the gym. Lastly, what I love about triathlon is that it is a life long sport, anyone can do it, be it a 3 year old or a 93 year old and if you come out to one of the races you will be able to see for yourself. There is never an end point in your career, your goals may change, but you can always compete in triathlon.
Q: Advice to others interested in starting.
A: The first piece of advice is DO IT!!! Give it a try and see if you like it. Do not get scared off by long training hours or fancy equipment because, guess what? You do not need it! You can do a triathlon with any type of bike (make sure you have a helmet!), and the only other pieces of equipment that you need are a swimming suit, goggles and running shoes that most people already own. If you have decided on participating in a triathlon, make sure to get in a few practices in all three sports and practice open water swimming as it is different from a pool where you have a line to follow on the bottom. Otherwise, just get out there and have some fun!
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