Borden’s Savannah Sutherland excited to make Olympic debut

The Olympic Games in Paris could be the first of many for Savannah Sutherland.

The 20-year-old from Borden, Sask. is making her Olympic debut in track and field, where she’ll compete in the 400-metre hurdles and the 4×400-metre relay race.

Sutherland said going to the Olympics is an achievement that means everything to her.

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“It’s a goal that I’ve had in my mind for quite a long time, and it was a goal that I was a little bit too scared to say it out loud. Now, being able to add that to my name and show everybody how hard I’ve worked and what I’ve accomplished is really special,” she explained.

Sutherland began her track and field journey in Borden and regularly practised in Saskatoon.

That’s where she met and looked up to an idol who helped inspire her to get to the next level in track and field.

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“I think being from Saskatchewan, the big one was Brianne Theisen-Eaton. We were in the same track club and so just having an Olympian who had kind of gone through the same process I had – was from the same province as me – I felt like I could relate a lot on that level. That was a huge inspiration for me growing up,” she said.

Sutherland excelled at track and field in her younger years, so much so that when she was approaching the end of high school, universities from the United States and NCAA were lining up for her services.

“For quite a few years while I was running I knew I was fast for Borden, but the population is very small so I didn’t know (if) that was saying too much,” she explained.

“When I started competing at the national level and started looking at schools in the United States, it was definitely overwhelming, but also exciting. There were a lot of doors opened that I thought couldn’t previously be opened.”

Sutherland eventually chose to go to the University of Michigan.

She’s now in her second year with the Wolverines and is a national name when it comes to collegiate track and field in the United States.

This past June at the NCAA national championship, she set a Canadian record in the 400-metre hurdle event with a time of 54.04.

After that performance, Sutherland said she is confident in what she can achieve in Paris.

“I’m confident in my ability to compete with these people. I think last year at the world championships (with Canada), that was a spot I kind of struggled with it being my first year on the senior team – the feeling of not really belonging at that championships or being a little bit starstruck by the people I see at the track,” she explained.

“Going into this year, I have a lot more confidence in my ability and competitiveness going in. I know that I have earned this spot and I deserve this spot on the track as much as anybody else,” she added.

“I know that I’m a competitor and that there’s been many times in my life where I’ve stepped onto the track and surprised myself, so I’m hoping that trend will continue.”

Sutherland can’t wait to get on the track in Paris.

“I’m so excited. I’ve seen so many pictures of the stadium and it looks absolutely beautiful. I know it’s a new track surface, so I think it’s going to be really great for everyone there,” she said.

“I think the atmosphere is going to be really exciting and I think it’s going to push us to some great times.”

Other than competing, Sutherland said she’s excited to experience a new city.

“I really get excited for world championships – and Olympics now, I guess – because of the travel it allows me to do. My first time in Europe was last year for the world championship,” she said.

“We’ve been to some pretty spectacular places and I’m very thankful for that.”

Sutherland will be joined by her parents in Paris.

She competes in the 400-metre hurdle event from August 4 to 8 and then the 4×400-metre relay race from Aug. 9 to 10.