Twin sisters in sync as Canada Games start in St. John’s

Twin sisters Madison and Taylor Buchanan are going to the Canada Games in Newfoundland and Labrador. Itzael Gaudet, one other Team New Brunswick athlete, will play in two sports activities.

Taylor and Madison are from Saint John and have been doing inventive swimming — previously synchronized swimming — since they have been eight.

Now 16, they have been coaching and competing collectively for a very long time and depend on one another for help.

“Maddie is my best friend, like best friend from birth, and I think having her to swim with and go through … all the stress and all the competitions together, I think it’s made me a better swimmer,” Taylor stated.

The twins will probably be a part of the group performances and also will carry out two duets collectively.

Taylor says they work effectively collectively partly as a result of they’re sisters and look a lot alike.

“I think it does give us a little bit of an advantage, especially with our duet, because the whole goal is to look alike and look similar and be in sync,” she stated. 

“When we’re in the water together doing the same things and we’re having a good swim, I feel like we just look very similar, and I think it looks really nice for the judges and for the people watching.”

Madison says generally they can not even inform the distinction between one another.

“Going back and watching videos, I’m like, ‘is that me or Taylor?’ It’s hard to tell in the water, but it’s pretty cool,” Madison stated.

Gaudet is a two-sport athlete

Gaudet is a swimmer and volleyball participant. His schedules lined up completely.

It’s swimming in Week 1 with the 16-year-old from Moncton competing within the 50-metre freestyle, 100-metre freestyle, 50-metre butterfly and 100-metre backstroke. 

He’ll play volleyball in Week 2.

He did not depend on making each groups, however he knew it was doable as a result of the schedules did not battle

“Once I discovered that both sports were two different weeks, that was definitely a goal that I had set for myself,” he stated.

Training for 2

Gaudet primarily has the coaching schedule of two athletes.

“It got to a point where one day I’d have swim practice at 6 a.m. and then head to school,” he stated.

“And right after school I’d have to make my way to the gym and work out for about an hour. After that, depending on the day of the week, I’d have to go straight to another swim practice or volleyball practice.”

The journey to Newfoundland is particular for all three.

It’s Gaudet’s first time there and he is excited for a brand new expertise and a chance to fulfill new folks.

“I can’t wait to visit a new province and I’m so excited to meet new people. Every province is going to be there. It’s going to be awesome.”

Twins have been their grandfather’s ‘duckies’

The Buchanans have deep household roots there. Their mom grew up in Gander and went to school there. They nonetheless have lots of relations within the province.

It’s additionally a tragic time with the latest dying of their grandfather, a Newfoundland native. He had plans to attend their occasions and had his flight booked to see his “duckies,” as he known as Madison and Taylor.

He was all the time on the pool, cheering them loudly.

“We’re really excited to go home and swim for him and make him proud because we know he’s going to be watching,” Taylor stated.