Winnipeg teen earns Manitoba's first gold medal in Canada Summer Games

A Winnipeg teen sped past competitors to earn Team Manitoba's first gold medal of the Canada Summer Games on Thursday.

Victoria Tachinski, 18, won the female 400-metre final Thursday afternoon at theUniversity of Manitoba Stadium with a time of 54.04 seconds. She securedManitoba'sseventh medal one of five on Thursday aloneand first gold for the province so far in the Games.

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Tachinskiwent into the Games fresh out of the Pan American Under 20 Championships in Peru, where she earned a gold medal in the 800-metre race andsilver in the 4x400-metre relay.

Last week, Team Manitobachef de missionBarry Moroz highlighed Tachinskias a Manitoban to watch in the Games.

Tachinskihas loved running since childhood, she told CBC Newslast week.

• Medal favourites: Manitobans to watch at the Canada Summer Games

"I didn't want to go outside, I just wanted to sit inside and I wanted to watch track and field. My parents just thought it was crazy," she said.

"I told them, I'm going to run for Canada. And they were like, 'OK,' like, 'If that's what you want, sweetie.' And now that it's actually happening, it's pretty crazy."

Tachinski will also represent Manitoba in the 800-metre raceand 4x400-metre relay. Both races are on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively.

• Full coverage of the 2017 Canada Summer Games