What do you get when you combine craft beer and women in sports?
Take Your Shot Lager.
Brewed for women in sports by our friends at Arcadia Brewing Co., Take Your Shot Lager will be available to crush with your teammates, after work, and while you’re watching your fav sports very soon.
Made in her Soul Shot’s home of Edmonton, Alberta, Take Your Shot Lager features 9 women in sports from Edmonton who have taken their shot in sports and continue to inspire others on the daily.
Katelyn Wright is one of them.
HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED IN SPORTS?
KATELYN: Currently, I’m #14 on Team Canada Women’s Sitting Volleyball. I’ve competed in two Paralympic Games (Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020) and we’re looking to qualify for Paris 2024.
Growing up, I curled, golfed, and did horseback riding/jumping. I swim, golf, have tried many varieties of para sport and of course, I’m always watching hockey. Haha.
How did your love for sports start and continue to where you are today?
KATELYN: My love of sports started when I was very young. My family has always been very active in sports, so I’ve grown up watching and trying whatever sport I could. I would watch my brother play hockey and was fortunate to be able to go to Oilers and Eskimo games with my family.
Participating in sports has always looked a bit ‘non-traditional’ for me as I was born with a condition that affected the health and size of my right leg. I was prone to infections and average sports gear wouldn’t fit my leg, so we had to be creative. Curling, golfing, and horseback riding were easier for me as equipment is very minimal and no running was involved. We had a stirrup made that would accommodate my right foot for horseback riding.
When I was 13 my leg had to be amputated above the knee due to a very serious infection that nearly took my life. During my time in the hospital, I would watch Oilers and Team Canada games whenever I could. I continued with curling, golf, and jumping after that and tried new sports however, my leg was still prone to infections, and I had to be cautious for my health.
In 2014, when I was 24, I had another major surgery due to a bone infection. A few months after my surgery I was invited to try sitting volleyball. I fell in love with the sport and have been competing ever since. I attribute sitting volleyball as a major component of my healing after what had been a lifetime of infections. I found a family amongst my teammates, and I’ve been fortunate enough to meet elite athletes from around the world that I now consider friends.
Sports are one thing that have always been a constant, whether through watching, competing, or talking about them, they’ve always been there.
What’s the biggest lesson(s) you’ve learned through sports?
KATELYN: Oh boy, that’s a tough one. I’ve learned so much from sport. I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is about growth mindset. Shifting how you think, speak, and goal set to allow for growth and success through failure, not despite it. A lot of what and how we are trained to think initially is very negative and we don’t even realize it. Reframing how I perceive failure and process has really helped me to grow as an athlete over the past couple of years.
Also, learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable has been something that has really helped me to make my biggest gains as an athlete.
What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to other girls and women in sports?
KATELYN: Trust the process and be okay with failure.
Failure is hard and it is inevitable, but it’s how you respond to failure that will set you apart from everyone else. Every failure is an opportunity for success. Be willing to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and the reward will be great.
What do you want those who drink this beer to know about women in sports?
KATELYN: That women in sports are resilient, powerful, and tough as nails. I think being a woman in sport automatically means you’re fighting an uphill battle, for coverage, for opportunity, for equity. I want people to know that the battle is worth it, that women are breaking barriers every day in all aspects of sport and that it’s important to advocate for yourself and your dreams.
CONNECT WITH KATELYN:
