Beginning the 3,000m steeplechase at the Paris Olympic games, Regan Yee is only thinking about one thing; the people who have supported her.
This was Yee’s second time representing Canada in track and field at the Olympics, after participating in the 2020 Tokyo games. However, this Olympics was a completely different experience for her because her family was cheering her on in the stands.
“Because of the pandemic, the stadium was empty (in 2020), and they had cardboard cutouts in the stands. It was dead quiet, [with] fake cheering,” Yee said.
“Then to race with a packed stadium. I have never competed in a stadium where you step out and there is a roaring crowd. It was so cool.”
The Hazelton, B.C., native ended up finishing in last place during the qualifying heat 17 seconds behind the Ugandan runner, Peruth Chemutai who went on to take the silver medal. But just participating at the Olympics meant a lot to Yee.
“When the race did not go as planned, people were still excited to see me compete and race. I want to do well, but if circumstances out of my control prevent that from happening and I tried my best, they are happy no matter what and I can be happy too,” Yee said.
“After the race, you are hugging your competitors and if people are crying, you are comforting them. I was crying, I was being comforted. In the track community, I feel there is a lot of healthy camaraderie there, especially in the steeplechase,” she added.
During the Olympic Athletic Trials in Montréal at the end of June, Yee slipped off a water barrier and injured herself.
“It was such bad luck, but I am fortunate [because] I have never been injured in my career. It is just annoying how one tiny misstep can mess up a year of training,” she said.
Despite her injury, Yee was still able to participate in the Olympics a few weeks later.
“The Olympics is different than any other race you run because it is a global event. World Championships are cool, but no one knows what that means, whereas, with the Olympics people know it took time, work and dedication to make it there,” Yee said.
“Getting to represent Canada, my family, northern B.C. and Hazelton on the world stage, makes it more special,” she added.
Yee’s parents encouraged her to stay physically active growing up. Starting in Grade 3, Yee began running and by Grade 5, she became known as ‘Regan the Runner’ in her town.
“I did every sport as a kid [because] there is not a lot of stuff to do in a small town. My parents encouraged me to have fun through sport,” she said.
Only as a teenager did Yee realize she was good enough to run professionally.
“I started getting scholarship offers and around the midpoint of high school, I was like, ‘this is something I can pursue and go far with.’ It was a cool realization to know it was something I could do after high school,” she said.
“Coming from Hazelton, we don’t have a track, hurdles or steeplechase equipment. Looking back, I can see how this was an advantage for me as lots of young athletes get burned out. They train too hard when they are young and the pressure gets to them.”
“I was never exposed to any of that, so that is why I have had a healthy and happy career because I was given the time and the space to slowly develop into the athlete I am now."
She also never felt pressure from her parents to continue doing the sport if she no longer enjoyed it.
“I realize how privileged I am to do this and I have not [reached] a point where if I am not enjoying it, I do not want to do it anymore. When that time comes, I will step away from it,” she said.
Yee hopes to participate in the next Summer Olympic games in Los Angelas in 2028 if she is still able to.
She is also planning on finishing her university degree and becoming a math teacher.
“All of my favourite memories have come from sports because I love the environment it creates. Do not take it too seriously at a young age, just make sure it is fun, the memories you make and lessons you learn are fantastic.”
