It was almost hard to hear herself over the many cheers from the audience when Paninnguaq Qvist stood on the platform in the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse yesterday and was to compete for gold in the stick pull in the open category for the women.
It turned out to be a great victory for the Dene Games athlete from Uummannaq at this year's Arctic Winter Games.
- I feel really good. I am very proud of what I have achieved. I have been training a lot up to now together with my children and the others I train with in Uummannaq.
- I got the urge to participate in the Games a few years ago, where I thought I could get good results. So I am very happy with what I have achieved today, she tells Sermitsiaq afterwards.
This is Paninnguaq Qvist's first time at the AWG.
- I was supposed to participate in 2016 for the first time. But then I got pregnant and had a small child. And I couldn't just travel away from my small child. Now my child is not so small anymore, so I am finally participating, she says.
Paninnguaq Qvist explains that in the past few years she has been selected as an alternate if other athletes could not participate, but it has not been the case that she would participate.
But the debutant has got her blood pumping for several Arctic Winter Games and is ready to fight for a place in the future.
- Of course, it depends on whether I am selected for the Games again next time. It really depends on whether I can maintain the level and achieve good results at home.
- But I will continue the good style and continue the strength training at home. If I am selected next time, I will again give my very best.
The games, which take place between territories in the Arctic, take place every other year. Ten years ago it was in Nuuk. This year it is in Whitehorse, Canada, where more than 2000 athletes are participating.
In addition to Paninnguaq Qvist, four others from Team Kalaallit Nunaat also won medals in stick pull. Minik Møller Platou won gold in the men's open category. Danny Clasen won gold in the U18 men's competition. Aviana Kristiansen won silver in the women's U18 competition. And Kristine Sigurdsen won bronze in the women's seniors.
