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My Experience Finding Joy and Safety in Sport
May, 2026
There is nothing I love more than laughing outside on a bluebird winter day or jumping in a refreshing lake with friends after an excruciating workout. My name is Aleah Smith. I live in Nelson, BC, and I am a cross-country skier. Now finishing my final year of high school, I will be attending the University of Calgary next fall in pursuit of an undergrad in Biomechanics. With this degree, I hope to continue into medical school, and finally go into sports medicine. I have a long educational journey ahead of me, and during my undergrad, I plan to balance it with cross country skiing. I am very excited to be joining the Alberta World Cup Academy and training and racing alongside such a large team of talented athletes. Throughout the warmer months of school, most of my training is devoted to track and cross country running. I may not be the fastest runner out there, but I still show up every day and work hard. So, remember, all of us athletes deserve a little recognition for our efforts. On top of that, Sport is more than just performance, it’s about feeling safe, supported, and proud.
I started cross country skiing when I was only a few years old, likely spending a lot of my early days on snow in a chariot. Between now and then, there have been many times that I have wanted to quit or give up. Now that I’m more aware of how fortunate I am, I’ve recognized that I always come out the other side with a million memories, experiences, and friends that reinforce my love of sport. Recently, I returned from nearly a full month away from home. First, I competed at our national championships in Mont-Sainte Anne, Quebec, then I got to fly straight to Sweden to train and compete for the next couple of weeks with part of the provincial team and two coaches. I am most appreciative of all the people who support me. The competitive skiing trips that they have taken me on are unforgettable.
I look forward to every race, as they are a chance for me to trust my training, step into my away from home ski world, and make memories that will last me a lifetime. For me, ski racing is like a second life. We briefly step out of our hometowns and away from our high school lives, coming together to train or race. Even though I sometimes see my ‘ski friends’ inconsistently, these friendships remain strong because we all share many interests, experiences, and objectives. This dual experience has shaped how I see safe sport.
In a sports setting that prioritizes emotional safety, everyone feels supported and valued so that they can grow from their mistakes without the fear of judgement. Emotionally safe sports environments are where us athletes build our confidence. For example, sports are the perfect place to practice being inclusive. It makes an enormous impact. Personally, I clearly remember being invited to eat dinner with a group of girls from all over the province at my first ever talent squad camp (a feeder to the provincial team for athletes around age 14).
Being from a small town, I didn’t really know anyone at the training camp, so it meant a lot to be welcomed into a group. I am still friends with many of the girls who sat at that table, and without those friendships, I would likely have quit competing years ago. What I’m saying is that it’s difficult to advance as an athlete and stay in sport if you don’t feel valued and included.
In my everyday life, I have a lot of commitments and tasks that crowd my to-do list, fill up my calendar, overlap in all the wrong places, and cause me anxiety. I always want to go on fun trips or balance my life by doing creative activities with friends, cooking, or watching movies. A lot of the time, this leads me to feeling excessively overwhelmed. These are parts of my life that may seem optional compared to the looming deadlines and long training sessions; however, they can’t just be cut out.
This is because they support my well-being. Honestly, I struggle with prioritizing activities, never knowing if I should focus more on school, work, relationships, sports, seeking opportunities, applying for scholarships, or self-care. A lot of the time, it feels like I don’t have time for everything and that’s probably because I don’t. A recent piece of wisdom that I would like to share is that sometimes there isn’t enough time in a day for everything. Saying ‘No’ is life-skill. Remember that many more opportunities are on their way, and you do not need to take on so many things that you lose the ability to do them well while maintaining balance.
Through this program, I recently got the opportunity to present to nearly one hundred Grade 3 students about the BC Winter Games, cross country skiing, my experience competing at a high level, encouraging them to participate in sports, and answering their millions of questions. This was my favourite opportunity so far because all the students were super engaged, curious, and excited about sports. After presenting, they all wanted my signature in their BC Winter Games Passports; many gave me hugs, and I could literally feel the inspiration radiating them! Another experience that I found a lot of joy in was organizing a Fun Run with my closest friend. After learning that one in three girls drop out of sport during adolescence, compared to only one in ten boys, I decided that we should plan an elementary school Fun Run in collaboration with the Girls Forward Foundation. As an athlete whose confidence, friendships, and resilience are shaped by sport, I felt compelled to help make a difference. My goal was to inspire young kids, especially girls, to stay in sport, and to raise funds to support programs that empower them through physical activity. After coordinating with schools, designing handouts, planning speeches, and baking cookie medals, I got to watch children participate with pride and excitement. These types of opportunities make me feel empowered and excited. I want others to enjoy sports the way I do every single day!
Finally, I believe that how much you get out of sport depends a lot on your approach and mindset. Around a year and a half ago, I began gratitude practice. I know it may sound cliché, but it helps me stay positive and has made me realize how fortunate I am. If you take personal initiative to write down a few things you are grateful for every couple of days, you’ll likely begin to look forward to it. With my gratitude jar, everything began to have a positive spin on it, and nearing the end of 2025, I began having to reflect on what I was most grateful for or what I could squish onto my tiny sticky note rather than scouring my day for something to write. Try placing each note into a jar and saving them for a special day because trust me, they’re a lot of fun to read through, and they’ll remind you of many small but special moments. Reflecting on what I’m grateful for has helped me develop a more positive internal environment which has in turn enhanced my athletic performance and inspired me to promote safe sports environments. Sport is at its best when people feel safe, proud, and free to be themselves.
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