As Wolfe Ross, 14 claimed the gold medal in javelin for team Saskatchewan, there was no indication he had just been in the hospital for two days.
Ross, who is from Pelican Lake First Nation was rushed to the hospital in Halifax with severe stomach pains. He was treated for appendicitis and his doctors at first told him he should not compete.
“It just kind of sucked that I couldn’t play, they told me I couldn’t play.
After his two-day hospital stay Ross said he was nervous but he is improving and he was excited to compete.
“I’m feeling good, I was a little nervous at first,” said Ross.
His coach, Jay Cee Brass also thought he was out of the game.“I was definitely worried because he was asking me can I when’s javelin, when’s javelin and is said it’s Wednesday and it’s like am I going to throw and I said right now let’s just try to get healthy,” his coach told APTN News.
But Ross was determined to compete and so with his doctor’s approval, he was released from the hospital and the next day he was back in the competition.
His coach said it was that determination that helped him win gold.
“He went into full recovery mode and it’s like healed twice as fast and he’s here and got gold, so it’s amazing in the North American Indigenous Games,” said Brass. He added that he thinks Ross is a legend.
Ross’ golden javelin throw was over 141 feet.
“It’s so surreal it’s literally, it makes you teary-eyed, like a lot of joy, I was having a hard time, I’m trying to stay solid you know like it gives you so much joy as a coach to see him throw farther and farther, it’s awesome.”
Ross also won silver in discuss, with an over 80 feet shot.
