The Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro serve as a proving ground and a stepping stone for our province's most promising young athletes. For many, the experience is their first taste of a major multi-sport event, a chance to represent their region, and an arena to build their skills and confidence. It's where the journey to the Canada Games, the Pan American Games, and even the Olympic Games often begins.

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Here are a few remarkable Manitobans who have used their Games experience as a springboard to national and international success. Their stories are a testament to the foundational role the Games plays in athlete development.

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Tyler Mislawchuk (Triathlon, 2008)

Before he was an Olympian, Tyler Mislawchuk was a young athlete with a passion for hockey. It was the prospect of competing at the Manitoba Summer Games that first enticed him to try triathlon as a form of cross-training. Mislawchuk went on to represent Canada at the 2016, 2021, and 2024 Olympic Games.

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‍Chyler Sanders (Archery, 2018)

Chyler Sanders competed at the 2018 Manitoba Winter Games and earned a gold medal in the individual match and a silver medal in the mixed team event. She has since gone on to compete on national and international stages, with exceptional finishes at the 2019 World Youth Archery Championships, 2022 Youth and Masters Pan American Championships, Canada Cup West, 2023 Canada Winter Games and more. Chyler was one of Team Manitoba’s closing ceremony flagbearers at the 2023 Canada Winter Games. 

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‍Carson Lambos (Hockey, 2018)

Carson Lambos competed in the 2018 Manitoba Winter Games, and one year later, competed for Team Manitoba at the Canada Winter Games. There, he showcased the skills that would lead to him being drafted 26th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Draft. 

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‍Hannah and William Wintoniw (Cross-Country Skiing, 2018)

Hannah and William Wintoniw’s multi-sport background began with cross-country skiing, a sport they both love. They have since competed at the Canada Games in both Winter in Cross Country-Skiing and Summer in Canoe Kayak. Read about their experience at the 2025 Canada Summer Games on Team Manitoba’s blog. 

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Brigette Lacquette (Hockey, 2006)

A trailblazer in every sense of the word, Brigette Lacquette's path from small-town Manitoba to the world stage is an inspiration. She became the first First Nations woman to play on Canada's national women's hockey team and a bronze medalist at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. 

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‍Skylar Van Horne (Speed Skating, 2018)

Skylar Van Horne competed in her first multi-sport event at the Manitoba Games in 2018 where she medaled in five of her seven events. At the 2023 Canada Winter Games, she was part of the women's team pursuit that won a silver medal. These experiences helped to prepare her for the next level, and she has since gone on to win silver in the team sprint event at the World Junior Championships. 

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