From an Athlete's Perspective
An open letter from RCL National Champion - Trinity Tuti
To whom it may concern,
It’s hard to find the right place to start on a topic I never thought I would need to worry about. As someone who competed for four consecutive years at the Legion Nationals, I assumed that it would be something that would go on forever; something that one day I could volunteer for, to give back to such an incredible organization, and help shape the minds of upcoming athletes and kids. I assumed it would be something that every young athlete aspiring to be an Olympian would have access to and be able to experience in their lifetime. I never once thought for a second that cutting the program would even be an option because of how many lives it has and hopefully continues to change.
Growing up, I never had a lot of confidence in sport or in general. However, when I was first introduced to the Legion Track and Field program and succeeded, it was the first time in my life where I felt like I could be something great one day. To this day, I continue to utilize the lessons I learned while growing through this program. I learned how to compete, to take care of myself, to trust the process and trust that people had faith in me when sometimes I didn’t have faith in myself. The confidence I gained from participating in this program has helped me not only with my throwing career, but in life as well. I remember the excitement when I learned I had made Team Ontario for National’s. I remember the fear I had while competing, and the disappointment I felt after I didn’t succeed with my goals. That was a huge learning opportunity for me. It made me work harder and forced me to start believing in myself like others believed in me. Everyone knew I could be successful, but I couldn’t see it yet. The years I had with Team Ontario were the biggest years of growth in my life. They taught me how to compete on a national stage which makes the transition to an international stage even easier, and how to hold my head up high if things did not go my way. I used those lessons last summer when I made my first appearance at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon. I did not perform how I wanted to, and despite my placing I walked away with a smile on my face, head held high because I was so proud of myself for even getting there. I did not fail. I learned how to better prepare myself for the next major championship, and that one bad performance does not define me. The same thing happened my first year at the Legion Nationals. I cracked under the pressure and was so disappointed in myself. I had to hit what I considered rock bottom to make sure I never got there again. I worked harder, dug deeper and better prepared myself and won three medals the next year, and was awarded Top Female Competitor of the Meet for two of the four years I was there. The memories I made throughout the years I was in the program are still crystal clear in my mind. The pride I felt for not only myself but for everything I was representing; my family, Team Ontario, The Legion, was unlike anything I’ve ever felt. It developed my character in such a unique and humbling way, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I can also remember my days of competing and making the podium like it was yesterday. The veterans always had smiles on their faces, and they were beaming with joy every time I talked to them. They were all so excited for all of the athletes, and I truly felt like they were just as happy as we were to be there. There was one woman in particular at my first provincials in Sudbury who saw me crying because I got second place in an event I was seeded first in. When I explained that I had lost, she looked at me, smiled and said “Honey, you won silver. You earned a medal. Be proud of that”, and it has stuck with me ever since. The friendships and bonds I made in that program were and still are so important to me - I’m still in contact with some of the Team Ontario managers and coaches, Fred, Crystal, Adrian, Denise, Laura, Jamal; they were all a support system on those trips. They all believed in me more than I ever could and had my back no matter what happened. John Crook, always wishing me the best and taking the time to catch up when he sees me. These are all people who taught me so many important lessons on sport, trust, faith all in my most formative years that I wholeheartedly believe I would have never learned if it wasn’t for The Legion Track and Field program.
I also believe that if it weren’t for everything The Legion had done for me, my parents or I wouldn’t be so eager to be part of The Legion now. My dad loves going to the local legion in Welland for wing nights, fish fries and other hosted events to catch up with the veterans and group members he has built relationships with and other like minded people who want to donate to such an important cause. I can’t wait for the day I can start giving back to something so important that made such a huge difference in my life. I always thought I would be able to volunteer as a coach for Team Ontario one day in hopes of paying it forward, and I would love the opportunity to do so.
I’m not sure how big of a difference this letter is going to make, but when I was asked to write a testimonial, I knew I couldn’t say no because of how near and dear this program is to my heart. It shaped me into the athlete I am today, and sure I can list all of my statistics and accomplishments but at the end of the day when I retire or even reminisce, I won’t remember how many medals I won, or records I broke. I’ll look back and remember the people, the veterans who volunteered their time and funds to a program they believed in, the people who built my confidence and gave me a reason to keep fighting; to never give up, and I will remember going to Nationals with a group of athletes who all believed in each other.
I sincerely hope you reconsider keeping the Track and Field program. I have nothing but fond memories of the entire experience, including but of course not limited to being with the veterans, competing, traveling throughout the country and learning about our history, or even the fact that we represented our province on a national stage. It is impossible to put into words how much this program means to me and so many other people, but I hope this letter made it a little bit easier to understand.
Thank you
Trinity Tuti
Team Canada 2023