International Women’s Day – Jenna Larter

Friday, March 8th is International Women’s Day and to celebrate, Sport PEI would like to recognize some of the women who are actively representing PEI as athletes! We asked them how they feel about being a leader for young female athletes on the island and what message they’d like to share.

Having dealt with her fair share of adversity and making the switch from short- to long-track speed skating, Brookfield’s Jenna Larter isn’t one to quit easy.

The 21-year-old became the first Islander to compete at National Long Track Championships in 2023, but wasn’t satisfied to just arriving at the dance, winning a silver medal and proving the worth of fighting to make the most out of every chance she gets.

“Take the opportunities that you have and make the most out of them,” said Larter about what message she has for younger female athletes. “Every drop of sweat, every early morning, and every bit of effort contributes to your success. Embrace the challenge and show everyone how determined a female athlete can be.”

A former Sport PEI award winner and finalist, Larter is the provincial record holder at 500- and 1000-metre distances and currently trains in Calgary at the Olympic Oval with the best skaters in Canada. The opportunity isn’t just one of personal performance for Larter; she relishes the chance to be a better leader and teammate while staying attuned to how she can leave her sport better than she found it.

“I strive to be a leader at every level of my life,” says Larter. “With skating, that means stepping up at practices and putting in the hard work, checking in on my teammates and offering support, and taking an active role in my training plan and goals. Within my community, I enjoy coaching our younger skaters and hosting girls’ Intro to Speed Skating camps.

“Training at the Olympic Oval, I train with some of the best athletes in the world. They’re incredible people and leaders. Being able to watch them day-in and day-out, I get to learn from them and use that knowledge to inspire our up-and-coming skaters.”

Larter last competed in February at the Winter Classic in Calgary where she finished top three in the 500-, 1000-, and 1500-metre races.

Sport PEI is also hosting a “She’s Good” event, sponsored by Maritime Electric, on Friday at Bluefield High for girls in grades 8-12. For more information, contact lboudreau@sportpei.pe.ca. To register, click here: