HUMBOLDT — Tianna Zimmerman wasn’t expecting to win this year’s Junior Citizen of the Year Award.
Even with a winning season as a Special Olympics athlete behind her, the 18-year-old Englefeld School Grade 12 student said it is a welcome surprise.
Zimmerman has been training for five years as a Special Olympics athlete with the Humboldt chapter and medaled in Nova Scotia at the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, and in Abu Dhabi at the 2019 Special Olympics Worlds.
Following her amazing performance, she also took home both the Special Olympics Saskatchewan Athlete of the Year award in September and the Special Olympics Canada Female Athlete of the Year award in November.
Making it the world championship was a goal for Zimmerman and it has taken three years of going to the gym, practicing, training in other sports, she said. Everything else that came from it was just luck.
Balancing training and school work have been a challenge for her, she said.
“The regular stress from school and homework became a lot sometimes when matched with the training as I didn't have a lot of downtime... Now my training is mainly on a break, so it's easier.”
While the training can be repetitive and tiring, going to the championships has made it all worth it, she said.
Even when goals feel impossible, Zimmerman encourages other young people to keep on working.
According to her awards profile following her provincial athlete of the year award: “Tia is a true role model for athletes that have intellectual disabilities. Simply put, Tia has inspired others to be champions and encourages her teammates to be the best they can.”
Janice Weber is also excited to see Zimmerman take home the award. The Special Olympics Humboldt president said Zimmerman has come a long way since she first started with Special Olympics Humboldt, not only as an athlete but as a Special Olympics representative.
“[Zimmerman] is not only an athlete but is a member of the board as our athletes’ rep and she likes to volunteer for fundraising.”
Zimmerman would like to thank her parents, teachers, and coaches for all their dedication.
Following graduating from Grade 12, Zimmerman hopes she will have more time to train, not only in swimming but also now in track and field.
Zimmerman will receive the award, which is organized by the Humboldt Journal, during the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce’s Mark of Excellence awards gala on Wednesday, March 18. Tickets can be bought at the chamber office.
