It’s an odd week for Louisa Henry. She’s just trying to swim as fast as she can.
Henry, born in 2013, turns 12 at the end of the month. She is not only the youngest member of Team NT, but also the youngest competitor across all of this year’s teams and sports at the 2025 Canada Games, organizers said.
“She’s been doing good,” said Josie Henry, her older sister and swimming team-mate. There are three members of the Henry family competing at the Games this year, which only serves to add attention.
“It’s pretty crazy, there’s a lot of questions and we’ve been getting a lot of interviews. There’s been a lot of talk about it,” said Josie.
In her bio on the Games website, Louisa lists Summer McIntosh as her inspiration because McIntosh is a “Canadian female swimmer that achieved a lot at a young age.” McIntosh was 17 when she swam to three Olympic gold medals and a silver at Paris 2024.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
Louisa says her philosophy, faced with athletes up to five years older than her who are Canada’s strongest young swimmers, is “do your best and beat your PB.”
On Monday, swimming in the women’s 50m breaststroke prelims, she was faster than 10 of her competitors, including three rivals born in 2009 and athletes from Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island.
“It’s a huge opportunity and an honour to be able to race against the best of Canada and people who are five years older than me,” she said.
“It feels really good to get times with them, and be with them. I’m trying to get more PBs, do my best, and get through the week.”
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
The two Henrys are rooming this week. Their older sister, Bea, arrives in St John’s at the end of the week to compete in female soccer during week two of the Games.
“It’s really nice having extra support. Having a team-mate is nice but having a sister is even better, and I’m glad I get to room with her,” said Louisa.
The Henrys aren’t alone in demonstrating sibling power for Team NT at this year’s Canada Games. The Duru family also has three sisters in action: Ofira, Oleta and Orlee.
Ofira and Oleta compete in female volleyball next week. Orlee is already in St John’s for tennis this week – winning single and doubles ties against Newfoundland and Labrador on Monday – then remains at the Games as a soccer player for week two alongside Bea Henry.
Other siblings on Team NT include Khaled Alhajjy and Mo Alhajjy in soccer, Tyson Hernandez and Selena Hernandez in basketball and volleyball respectively, and Chris Mathison and Tamara Mathison in beach volleyball, who have younger brother Zachary Mathison in basketball.
Basketball player Ella Skauge’s older sister, Kali, is representing the Yukon in softball.
