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Team Saskatchewan is off to a flying start in week two of the 2025 Canada Summer Games, claiming four medals on Aug. 19, including a gold-silver finish in diving and two podium spots in shot put.
The day kicked off with University of Saskatchewan Huskie athlete Nathan Pinno throwing 16.48 metres in men’s shot put to secure a silver medal. Later that evening, David Lipton matched the achievement in the men’s para shot put, adding another silver to the province’s growing total.
But it was on the diving platform where Saskatchewan truly made a splash.
Lila Stewart and Isa Koop dazzled in the artistic diving event, a new addition to this year’s Games. Stewart struck gold with a final score of 221.70, while Koop followed with silver, scoring 198.15. Their stellar performances mark a powerful debut for Saskatchewan’s eight-person diving team, which is expected to contend for more medals as the week continues.
“This is an awesome way to start the competition,” said Laura Desautels, head coach of both Team Sask. and the Regina Diving Club. “The artistic event is all about foundational skills. It’s a great way to build confidence before the more difficult dives later this week.”
Nathan Pinno with his silver medal in diving. (Michael Scraper/Team)
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Both Stewart and Koop began diving at age four, and their early promise clearly paid off.
“I looked over and saw this kid jumping so high, perfect little pike jumps,” Desautels recalled of meeting Stewart in a preschool program. “Now, here she is, winning gold at the Canada Games.”
Koop’s father, Greg Koop, says his daughter dove off a 10-metre board at just six years old.
“She’s fearless, but for her, it’s also about having fun with the team. This medal is the icing on the cake.”
David Lipton during his silver medal throw. (Michael Scraper/Team)
Elsewhere, Team Sask opened the women’s baseball competition with a historic 8–5 win over Manitoba before rain postponed their second game. In box lacrosse, Saskatchewan came out swinging, dominating P.E.I. with an 18–1 victory in their tournament opener.
In athletics, the medal hunt continues as athletes advance to finals in multiple track and field events, including the 100m, 400m, and 4x100m relay. Decathlete Logan Kok leads the field heading into day two with 2,734 points.
Team Sask also saw strong starts in volleyball, with both the men’s and women’s squads winning their opening matches in straight sets.
With clear skies ahead, competition ramps up Wednesday with the start of wrestling and mountain biking, and continued action in softball, golf, and soccer, where star forward Neko Michell is expected to make an impact in the women’s opener against Alberta.
As of Wednesday morning, Team Saskatchewan’s medal count stands at 8:
Gold – 2
Silver – 3
Bronze – 3
To view the full schedule and results for Team Sask, visit the 2025 Canada Summer Games Website.
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