16-year-old high school student, Sophie Carmichael kicks off the Nova Scotia True Sport Athlete Ambassador campaign as the featured True Sport Athlete Ambassador for January 2022.
When Sophie’s not dribbling a basketball, she may be found serving a volleyball. This multisport athlete fosters a positive and safe sporting culture by matching her competitive drive with the True Sport Principles.
“To me, True Sport is about balancing my competitive spirit to go for it and play hard while also respecting the other six True Sport Principles. It doesn’t have to be winning or True Sport, it should be winning through True Sport. I feel honoured that so many of my teammates, opponents, coaches and officials see it the same way – this is what makes sport great to me,” said Sophie.
Basketball and volleyball aren’t the only activities that Sophie has taken a shot at, add badminton, floor hockey, tennis, gymnastics, dance, soccer, and even playing the cello the list. Sophie shows gratitude for her sport opportunities and what each experience has taught her.
Looking back on her favourite sports memories, she recalls the perseverance that her first competitive basketball team displayed. “We lost every game of the regular season, but came back and won the playoffs. Even though we were all young (U12) it made it more significant of a win because it showed how much a team could grow over a season, and how hard work pays off,” said Sophie.
Sophie thanks her parents for helping her to become an athlete that upholds the True Sport Principles. “I’m very grateful my parents put me in everything I’ve done, they’ve always been supportive and push me to achieve anything I put my mind to.” says Sophie, “Because of them, I’ve met so many amazing friends, teammates and coaches who have helped me become the person and athlete I am today.”
The Nova Scotia True Sport Athlete Ambassador Program is a social media campaign created to foster a positive and safe sporting culture across the province. The goal of the program is to increase awareness of the seven True Sport Principles; “Go For It, Play Fair, Respect Others, Keep it Fun, Stay Healthy, Include Everyone, and Give Back.” Each month a new featured athlete will share how they live the True Sport Principles in their athletic and everyday pursuits through personal stories on Instagram.
