Senior Bronco Takes Home Gold

On August 4th, 2017, the 7th World Dwarf Games was in full swing in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Every four years since 1993, over 600 dwarf athletes from all corners of the world go head to head in their specialty sport for a chance to win all the glory, and dazzling medals.

The event is the “largest sporting event in history held exclusively for athletes with dwarfism”, so to see a Bishop local make it all the way to such an affair is an amazing accomplishment in itself. Senior Kelli Christensen, Bishop Union High School’s very own, flew all the way out to Guelph to compete in her forte, swimming, with little people from all across the globe.

Kelli was selected to attend the Games in February of last year, but at the time, she had appendicitis and didn’t want to participate. But eventually, she built up the courage to start practicing, and eventually made it to Canada.

She spent days and nights leading up to the event, training for when she’d eventually make a splash in Guelph. She says her parents supported her all the way, and even went with her on her long trip to the neighboring country.

“I was so busy I barely saw them, I was staying in a different area.” Kelli said regarding her parents. However, she wasn’t alone, since she was staying with her best friend, Chapin, and also knew a couple other friends who were competing that week.

Although the event spanned a whole 8 days, Kelli did her swimming all in one day. She swam in the 200 yard individual medley, 50 butterfly, 50 freestyle, and 100 breaststroke, against 15-18 other competitors in each event.
“I was super nervous and uneasy,” Kelli, recalling her feelings leading up to her first event. But, she had nothing to worry about – she eventually snatched 3 gold and 2 silver medals; a medal for each event she swam in.

Even though competitive swimming can be extremely demanding, Kelli said she enjoyed swimming all her events. All her hard work definitely paid off, as she traveled back to the United States with multiple medals to her name.