Baggs was the first NL athlete to bring home a silver medal for the province of NL during the gamesPublished Sep 15, 2025Last updated 49 minutes ago6 minute readNewfoundland and Labrador athlete and Canada Games medal winner Gavin Baggs. Photo by Keith Gosse/The TelegramArticle contentEighteen-year-old Gavin Baggs had competed in three Canada Games before the 2025 summer event in St. John’s, but he had never won a medal in either of them.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThis summer with the Canada Games in his own province, he proved something to himself. Hard work and determination paid off and he took home four medals for Newfoundland and Labrador. A gold in the 1,500-metre wheelchair race and silvers in each of the 100m wheelchair, 400m wheelchair, and 400m freestyle para swimming. Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThese accomplishments on home turf made it all the more special, he says. Article content“When I started training really seriously for sports, including para-track and swimming for the Canada Games, I realized I had the potential to medal,” said Baggs. Article content“And I said, ‘I’m going to work my ass off and hopefully bring home a medal for Newfoundland and Labrador.’”Article contentREALIZING HE WAS A COMPETITORArticle contentBaggs brought home a silver medal during his first day of the Canada Games. It also marked the first medal for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador during the 2025 Games. Article contentHe added that his goal was just to secure one medal, and if he could do that he would be happy. But after gaining the first medal, he realized he was a real competitor and could even bring home a gold. Article content“That realization pushed me into another gear, and definitely helped me compete in a way that I wasn’t used to,” said Baggs. Article contentArticle content“But definitely in a way that excited me a lot more, a way that gave me more motivation, and it was a way to get me three more medals.”Article content Newfoundland and Labrador athlete and Canada Games medal winner Gavin Baggs. Photo by Keith Gosse/The TelegramArticle contentArticle contentWINNING IN FRONT OF LOVED ONESArticle contentWinning in his home province was even more special because he did so in front of his family. Article contentBaggs said that both his parents, Curtis and Raeleen Baggs, were Canada Games athletes for soccer and rugby, and are the reason he loves sports today. Article content“It wasn’t just a big thing for me and for Newfoundland, but I felt like I did my family proud. I did them very proud,” said Baggs. Article content“And it was a very emotional time. But I was incredibly happy and proud of myself, and I know that they were, as well.”Article contentRepresenting Team NL was another huge honour, he said, because not a lot of high-level sports competitions come to the province. Most times, NL athletes head out. Seeing the best young athletes in the country come to NL definitely meant a lot, he added. Article content“Being able to compete for Newfoundland and Labrador, and in Newfoundland, in the biggest competition that we’ve had in a very good while, it is such an honour, and I’m so happy to have been a part of it,” said Baggs. Article contentHOW HE BECAME INVOLVED IN SPORTSArticle contentBaggs has been involved in sports for 13 years and started with hockey, basketball, baseball and soccer, later transitioning fully into para sports.Article contentHe said that he was born with Sacral agenesis, which means he is missing and experiences stiffness and weak muscles below his knees. While he can walk, run and jump, he has limited endurance. Article contentThe first parasports he got into were wheelchair basketball and para hockey. From there, he moved into swimming, which started as rehabilitation and strengthening but quickly became competing. Article contentThree years ago, he got into track, and he quickly saw his potential there, too.Article contentArticle content“And ever since then, I’ve been training for the Canada Games,” said Baggs.Article contentNEXT GOALArticle contentWith the 2025 Canada Games over, Baggs is already working toward his next goal. Article contentHe even opted to postpone heading to university for this opportunity; Baggs was accepted to the University of Calgary for a double major in education and drama.Article contentCurrently, Baggs is training in para hockey to hopefully get a chance to join Team Canada for the 2026 Paralympics in Italy.Article content“I’m currently in the cluster of players who are fortunate enough to get an opportunity to try out and compete for these spots for that team,” said Baggs.Article contentOver the coming months he said he will be focusing solely on hockey, his overall athletics, health, muscles, cardio, and everything that could help him get to what he called “the biggest stage of them all.” Article contentArticle content20 questionsArticle contentQ. What is your full name?Article contentA. Gavin Nicholas James Baggs Article contentQ. Where and when were you born, and where do you live today?Article contentA. I was born on July 6, 2007, in Paradise, Newfoundland. And I’m still living in Paradise today. Article contentQ. What is one thing you would like people to know about you? Article contentA. I like being busy. I find it’s a good way to keep me on the go, keep me out of trouble, and it’s given me so many opportunities. I like being a busy person.Article contentQ. What would people be surprised to learn about you?Article contentA. I am a big musical theatre nerd. I’ve done at least one or two musicals in Newfoundland since I was 10 years old. My favourite role I’ve played was Prince Charming in Cinderella. Article contentQ. What is the hardest thing you have done? Article contentA. The 1,500-metre race at the Canada Games. It was pouring down, gusts of 70, I think, and it was the longest race that I did that week. So that was the hardest thing ever done.Article content Paradise para-swimmer Gavin Baggs won a silver medal in the men’s 400m freestyle para event held at the Aquarena in St. John’s on Aug. 10. Not only is it the first medal Baggs has won in four trips to the Canada Games, but it is the province’s first medal in these Games. CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentQ. Can you describe one experience that changed your life? Article contentA. In 2019, the Canadian Para Cup came to Paradise, at the rink that I’ve been training at my entire life. Getting to see the best players in the world come to my hometown and compete, it absolutely changed my life, about how far I could take this, how cool the sport can be and, hopefully, I could make that team.Article contentQ. What is your greatest indulgence? Article contentA. Steak. Article contentQ. What is your favourite book?Article contentA. “Be More Chill” by Ned Vizzini. Article contentQ. What is your favourite movie? Article contentA. “The Goonies.”Article contentQ. What music do you like to listen to?Article contentA. I’m a big country and folk guy.Article contentQ. How do you like to relax?Article contentA. I do so much in my day-to-day life that when I do get to relax, I like to do nothing. Take a few deep breaths, maybe a nap, hang out with my friends.Article contentQ. Who would play you in a movie about your life?Article contentA. Kit Connor or Taryn Edgerton.Article contentArticle contentQ. What is your greatest fear? Article contentA. The ocean, and being a swimmer, most people probably wouldn’t think that, but it definitely is. Article content Paradise para-athlete Gavin Baggs continued his standout Canada Games by picking up this fourth medal, third on the track, in St. John’s. Baggs won a silver medal in the 400m para wheelchair event on Aug.24. CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentQ. What is your greatest joy? Article contentA. I like playing music; I like singing, playing guitar and piano. I’ve been doing it as long as I’ve been doing sports. Article contentQ. What is your most treasured possession?Article contentA. My Canada Games medals. Article contentQ. What is the best advice you got from a parent or mentor? Article contentA. Give it everything you got. It’s such a cliché thing to say, but that’s how I compete. It’s how I do everything in life. I like to give it everything I got, and have no regrets after.Article contentQ. What would you say is your best quality, and what would you say your worst quality is? Article contentA. My best is that I am hard-working and resilient. My worst is that I’m a little too competitive at times. I’m not a big fan of losing.Article contentQ. Where is your favourite place in the world? Article contentA. My cabin on Salmonier Line. Article contentQ. What advice would you give to your 12-year-old self? Article contentA. I’d say the same thing that’s been said to me so many times. Give it to everything you got.Article contentQ. Which three people would join you for your dream dinner party? Article contentA. Adam Sandler, Brendan Gallagher, and Noah Khan. Article contentNote: answers have been edited for length and clarity. Article content
NL’s Gavin Baggs hoped to win one medal at the Canada Games. He ended up with four
