Young athletes from across the region will be on their way up north next week to compete in the Manitoba Winter Games.
Gymnast Emily Bueckert is one of several local athletes headed to the Manitoba Winter Games in Thompson next week
The 2026 Games powered by Manitoba Hydro take places March 1-7 in Thompson, involving more than 1,500 athletes, 300 coaches and managers, 100 officials, and upwards of 750 volunteers from across the province.
It is the third time Thompson has hosted the Games, and the week will feature a dozen sports ranging from curling, skiing, and skating to gymnastics, hockey, and wrestling.
There are a number of athletes taking part as representatives of the south central region, such as Winkler’s Emily Bueckert who is involved in gymnastics through the Morden Magics club.
The 12-year-old has been involved in gymnastics for four years now. She recalls being inspired to take it up after seeing a gymnast cousin do the splits.
“It means so much to me,” she said of having the opportunity to participate in the Games. “I’m really excited to represent my team and my club.”
A lot of time put into the sport has paid off for Bueckert.
“It’s lots of hours of training and practice,” she said.
“She loves the sport of gymnastics a lot, so she wishes she could be at the gym a lot more hours than she can be,” noted her mother Tracy. “She loves to train, loves to learn new skills, and she is definitely very dedicated.
“I think she definitely deserves to go for sure,” she added, pointing out this could perhaps be a once in a lifetime experience. “She has worked very hard at it.”
Meanwhile, in the skating events, Carys Jenner of Morden will be competing at the pre-novice level as a result of getting a wild card spot on Team East.
“I am very excited to have the experience competing at the Manitoba Winter Games with friends,” said Jenner. “I love being part of a team, and I’m eager to continue challenging myself going into this competition.”
Tessa Dyck will be be competing in pre-novice skating.
“I am very honored to be representing Team South and excited to have this opportunity to go to the Games,” said Dyck, a 14-year-old from Miami who skates with the Morden Figure Skating Club. “I am really looking forward to this experience and hope that I can skate my best to represent my region well.”
Jacy Butler, who is from Elm Creek but also performs with the Morden club, will also be part of Team South in skating.
“I am honoured to be able to represent a part of our region in a provincial event, especially given the fact that qualifying for this event meant everyone in my own immediate family has been able to attend some form of Manitoba Games,” Butler noted.
“To be able to not only compete in these Games but to go at the Level 1 AM (pre novice) is quite special to me, as the past years after the pandemic were quite hard for me, sports wise, in the sense of finding a club to train at and to re-develop a majority of my elements due to a growth spurt,” she added. “I had an entire competitive season off, and the fact I have been able to come back stronger than before is a very dear fact to me.
“Although I am not the best in Manitoba, for my level at least, I have confidence in myself, and beside placing top three, my main goal is to beat my own record and enjoy my time at the games.”
Coming from the Morden Curling Club, Annabelle Lanthier and Alexandre Bitton are also part of Team South in mixed doubles curling.
“I will gain skills and knowledge. I will meet new people and I will be able to cheer on my friends who are in other disciplines,” said Bitton. “It will be a good experience, and I am fortunate to be able to go. Hoping to win, of course, but also just being out there and having fun.”
“For myself, I am looking forward to going to the Games as an athlete. I was able to go to the Summer Games last year as an official, but it’s such a different experience to compete. This will also be my last chance to play in the Manitoba Games, and I’m going to make the best of it,” said Lanthier.
“I’m looking forward to meeting new people and having a good time. It’s also a good trek for us with the games being in Thompson, and that just makes it all the more exciting.”
Lanthier also offered thanks to their coach, Gerald Graham.
“He has been coaching in Morden’s junior curling program since long before I was born and has been coaching both of us since we were like seven years old,” she noted. “When we asked him to come to Thompson with us, he agreed with no hesitation and didn’t expect anything in return. We truly can’t thank him enough for everything he has done for us.”
Kierra Penner, who is another Morden member of the figure skating club, will be competing in star 6 and 7 at the games.
“It’s an honor to be competing at the games. I’m excited for the opportunity to compete with a team and can’t wait to go have fun,” said Penner.
The Manitoba Winter Games last took place in 2018 and follow the Olympic cycle, taking place every two years, alternating between summer and winter events and preceding the Canada Games by one year.
The program is administered by Sport Manitoba and implemented by the Manitoba Games Council along with the governing provincial sport organizations managing the coordination of their specific sport.
To follow how the local kids are doing, head online to mbgames.ca.
