1
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It's the racing part
that I think is addicting.

2
00:00:04,171 --> 00:00:06,590
The feeling when you finish
and touch

3
00:00:06,590 --> 00:00:10,177
and you look up at the clock
and you're like: Wow!

4
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I just got a personal best!
Wow! I got a qualifying time!

5
00:00:13,805 --> 00:00:17,142
I think that's the best feeling
in the world.

6
00:00:19,853 --> 00:00:21,772
I'm Naval Cadet Hanna Mountfort.

7
00:00:21,772 --> 00:00:24,775
I'm currently attending
school at RMC Kingston.

8
00:00:24,775 --> 00:00:27,736
I'm in my second year.

9
00:00:27,736 --> 00:00:29,613
The Canadian trials,

10
00:00:29,613 --> 00:00:32,574
it's the highest meet
for all Canadians to compete at,

11
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and lots of Olympians.

12
00:00:35,244 --> 00:00:36,828
It was crazy.

13
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I was sitting in the ready room
for my race.

14
00:00:40,624 --> 00:00:43,001
And then just Penny Oleksiak
is there,

15
00:00:43,001 --> 00:00:45,420
like, Taylor Ruck, Kylie Masse.

16
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There are all just there,
and there're just zoning in,

17
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getting ready for the race.
So, it's kinda surreal.

18
00:00:50,467 --> 00:00:53,554
It's pretty crazy
just to be sitting there,

19
00:00:53,554 --> 00:00:56,890
and be like: Wow! I'm at the
stage of my career in swimming

20
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that I get to be near
to these people

21
00:00:59,351 --> 00:01:01,770
and I get to race
against some of them.

22
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And it's pretty exciting.

23
00:01:05,524 --> 00:01:07,109
I grew up in Hubley,

24
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which is about 30 minutes
from Halifax.

25
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I started swimming when I was 5.

26
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So, I've been swimming
my whole life.

27
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And I started doing
competitive swimming.

28
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I grew up kind of in a rural
area and right on a lake.

29
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So, I've just been
in the water my whole life.

30
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Competitive swimming
kinda clicked

31
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when I was around 11.

32
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And then, I kinda
reached the stage

33
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around 11 and 12

34
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when you either start
competitive swimming,

35
00:01:33,177 --> 00:01:35,053
or you just kinda...
just normal swimming.

36
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I swam my first meet

37
00:01:36,972 --> 00:01:39,099
and made my first national
qualifying time.

38
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I was like: "Oh wow!
I kinda like this stuff!"

39
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I had great coaches at the time.
They were super supportive.

40
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I didn't really know anything
about the competitive world.

41
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But I just kept making times.

42
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And they were super supportive

43
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and they just kept
pushing me to do better.

44
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And I think that's kind
when it clicked.

45
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And not only that,

46
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I think having a great team
is what helped it click too.

47
00:02:04,750 --> 00:02:08,378
I didn't really think about RMC,
honestly, until my brother went.

48
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And just hearing about it,
and he was on the rowing team.

49
00:02:12,216 --> 00:02:14,510
And hearing about all
the fun things they can do

50
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and opportunities.
The education you get is, like,

51
00:02:16,970 --> 00:02:18,514
compared to nothing else.

52
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The programs, the teamwork
and the sports.

53
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And for RMC, it's not just
normal university

54
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where you kinda come
and just do your thing.

55
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Like, you're constantly
living with people.

56
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And I kinda really wanted that,

57
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that team aspect
of being together.

58
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And I was just really
excited to join.

59
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And I've loved it ever since.

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00:02:38,283 --> 00:02:40,410
Being a female cadet, sometimes,

61
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it feels like you're
a little bit of a minority.

62
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Because there is definitely
a smaller percentage of females,

63
00:02:46,834 --> 00:02:50,212
especially in science
and engineering.

64
00:02:50,212 --> 00:02:52,548
But it's growing
and it's getting better.

65
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And I think, coming
from a sport's aspect,

66
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and swimming particularly,

67
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it was never, like,
girls and boys.

68
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When I was training,
it was just my friends.

69
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When I came here,
that's the mindset I had.

70
00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:06,562
And I think you have to go in

71
00:03:06,562 --> 00:03:09,398
with the mindset of not really
picking yourself out.

72
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Sure, sometimes, you kinda feel:
"Oh! There are not as many!"

73
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But I think
it's getting better and,

74
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as long as you have good
friends and everyone supportive,

75
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there's no problem.

76
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Sports have just been part
of my life, my whole life.

77
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And I think having sports,

78
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and every single person's life
having physical activity,

79
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is like a crucial pillar.

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That's one of
our pillars for RMC,

81
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and in the military as well.

82
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Being fit is not only important
for your physical health,

83
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but your mental health too.

84
00:03:39,178 --> 00:03:41,638
It's been a great
leadership opportunity as well,

85
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made me a better person
in general.

86
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And not only that,
it's made me a better athlete.

87
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I'm able to do well
in anything I try.

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♪