Dairy Farmers Of Canada Present Fuelling Women Champions: Natasha Smith On Overcoming Challenges To Be Successful
Natasha Smith of the Ontario Storm is a prime example of an athlete who has overcome adversities in order to reach success in her sport. Although she started her rugby career late – in comparison to most players – and had various obstacles along the way, she continues to excel, as a member of Rugby Canada’s national team and Rugby Ontario’s provincial team.
Smith’s athletics career started at age nine, although it was another sport that had her attention at the time. Instead of carrying rugby ball down the field, she was dribbling a basketball down the court. Natasha enjoyed basketball and excelled in the sport all the way through high school. She stumbled upon the sport of rugby in grade twelve, as she was looking for new options to fuel her athletic hunger.
“Every year when the basketball season was over, I would try one other new sport,” Smith explained. “In grade twelve, I tried out rugby for the first time, after being convinced by a few classmates.”
At seventeen years old, Natasha picked up a rugby ball for the first time and enjoyed the sport, but basketball was still number one. After graduating from high school, she pursued an undergraduate degree at Carleton University, in Ottawa. Her initial plan was to join the basketball team, but in order to focus on her studies; she took a break from sports in her freshman year.
In her second year at Carleton University, Smith became a Raven, but it was not in the sport she was originally planning on joining.
“In my second year, the same friend who had convinced me to play rugby in high school, invited me to the [rugby] tryout,” she recalled. “Although Carleton had not yet made CIS [Now USports] Varsity status at that point, I had fell in love with the sport and the community. I knew that I wanted to learn more about rugby.”
That love for the game, the community and her drive for knowledge pushed Smith’s rugby to heights that she would have never believed; playing provincially for the Ontario Storm and internationally as a part of Team Canada (National team and FISU National team). Her career has been without some challenges, though.
“Rugby has really pushed my limits not only as a player, but in my personal life,” Natasha noted. “It was difficult at first to get used to the commitment – with practices every morning at 6:40am, gym sessions, video analysis, game day and then fitting in schoolwork and a part time job.”
Not only is it difficult for a student athlete to juggle the stresses of school and sports, but personal life can sometimes suffer, as well.
“I struggled to maintain relationships with family and friends, as I had such little free time,” Smith said. Eventually I was able to get into a routine, and improve my time management skills, though.”
The day-to-day struggles of an athlete seem to be enough, but when playing sports at a high level, there are always emotional ups and downs. Whether it is a tough loss or a tough season as a whole, the emotions of sports are enough to rival that of many television dramas. Smith was dealt a rough hand in 2013, when she broke her collarbone, preventing her from playing in her second season with Carleton.
“When I realized I wouldn’t recover from the break before the season began, I was devastated,” she explained. “I wanted to stay connected with the team, but at the same time it was really hard to find my role within the team.”
With the limited eligibility of university sports, one season can have a large impact on an athletic career. The physical recovery is one obstacle, but losing out on a whole season of bonding with teammates and being a leader can be just as tough.
“In the past, I had always led by example,” Natasha recollected. “I decided to still attend every practice and every game to help in whatever way I could from the sidelines.”
Natasha came back the next season in top-form, though. She recorded 40 points and was tied for third in the conference.
She played two seasons with the Ravens and even though that only included 12 games, Smith ranks first on Carleton University’s all-time women’s rugby scoring list with 125 points. She won Carleton’s Female Athlete of the Year and received First Team All-Canadian status, in 2014 on top of being named a RSEQ First Team All-Star. Natasha’s leadership on and off the field was noticed and she was brought on as an Assistant Coach in 2015.
Since her career at Carleton University, Natasha has suited up for the Ontario Senior Storm, as well as Rugby Canada’s Women’s National Team.
Looking back on her sports career, Smith is quick to give credit to some of her biggest role models, including her mother.
“My mom has always supported me in sports. When I started playing rugby, she was a little nervous about the physicality, but still loves to watch me play,” she explained. “My mother and my godmother are the strongest and kindest people that I know. There was never a time where they have doubted my abilities, and they have both helped me to become the person I am today.”
She also recognizes Denis Blondin – her former coach at Carleton – as an inspiration for her successes.
“Denis spent many extra hours helping to develop my rugby skills and knowledge. He really created a program that tested my teammates and I to go outside of our comfort zone on and off the field. He played a huge role in my desire to pursue rugby at a higher level.”
Smith recognizes that women’s sport is growing, but it still has a long way to go; citing increased coverage of women’s sports as an area in need of improvement. On the other hand, she has a lot of female players that came before her, which she recognizes as role models and who took her under their wing early on in her career.
“More coverage of women’s sports would hopefully inspire more kids to start playing sports,” she said.
This continues to be a topic for women’s sports and the more success that the Canadian team has on the International stage will definitely help the cause.
We asked Natasha to leave us with some words of advice for young girls aspiring to play sports at a high level:
“I would say that if you have a dream that you are passionate about, pursue it! Along the way, there will always be challenges – everyone experiences ups and downs, but getting through the tough times prepares and strengthens you for the next challenge. Remember to always find the time for family and friends, because their support along the way will be invaluable.”
"As champions of healthy living, providing nutrition and playing an active role in our communities, Canada’s dairy farmers’ mission is to see that no hurdle exists that might hinder the passion for the game. The goal: to support women’s sports so they will become more watched, more appreciated and more financially stable, from the grassroots level to the elite level. Visit womenchampions.ca to learn more”
