Saskatoon paraswimmer to carry province's flag at Canada Summer Games closing ceremony

For about the past two weeks, Saskatoon's Shelby Newkirkhas been eating breakfast by 7:30 a.m. and dinner at around 10 p.m not how most21-year-olds typically spend their summer days.

But Newkirk's life is anything but typical. She's one of around 30 young swimmersrepresenting Team Saskfor the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg, which cometo an official close on Sunday.

Newkirk,the only paraswimmeron the team, earned the most medals of all the province's athletes:four gold and two silver. It'san accomplishment made even more impressive by the fact she first began paraswimming five years ago.

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"To be able to have so many medals going home with me it's really exciting," she said Sunday.

She competed in a total of sevenparaswimmingevents and has been training for the games seven days a week since April.

As the province's most-decorated athlete,Newkirk will be the flag-bearerfor Saskatchewan when the team enters Winnipeg's Investors Group Field for the closing ceremonies.

"I always think that the opening and closing ceremonies are such a great way to just unite everybody that's competed at these games because we've trained for so long and this is kind oflike the time when we get to show off."

"So being able to walk out with my team and with Team Sask holding the flag it's going to be really exciting."

Newkirk is no stranger ofcompetition: She's currently the holder of seven Canadian records, two American records and is ranked No.1 in her paraswimming category.

She also competed in the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Que.

After the games, Newkirk will be home briefly before she heads to the U.S. to train with Team Canada in anticipation of the World Para-Swimming Championships inMexico City this fall. By 2020, she hopes to represent Canada at theParalympics.

Camaraderie among athletes

Newkirksaid there were around 15 para-swimmersfrom across the country who participated in the games, many of whom she knew from previous events and trainingand others who have now becomenew friends.

"We've just become a really tight community," she said.

"We all cheer for each other. We all watch for each other to finish our race and we just get so excited when each other does well. It's a really nice community to be a part of," she said.

Newkirksaid going into races knowing she's competing for the province, not just herself, gives her that extra "push."

"Having this province to represent and to be proud to have and be able to stand beside the flag when you're on the medal podium is awesome."

Team Saskatchewan's athletes earned a total of 35 medals during the games, landing in seventh place.