by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Isabeau Woodard is 4’5, 10 years old and is a member of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Ojibwe). She is also a swimmer and competes in the breaststroke. Her parents are Alisha Jo Gates Woodard (Ojibwe) and Christopher Woodard. The family lives in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Her native name is Meegwuneemeequay meaning ‘Dancing Feather Woman’.
Isabeau attends Lincoln Elementary School and currently swims for two teams. The first is in the Michigan Team Swim League; Sault Competitive Aquatics Teams and the second is USA Swimming Team Northern Michigan Narwhals. Isabeau holds the 8 and under breaststroke record for the Sea Devils team (25Y) and holds the fastest times in 8 and under breaststroke for the Narwhals team (25, 50, and 100 meters).
Mom Alisha Woodard said: “Our tribe teaches the Seven Grandfathers Teachings. When Isabeau started to swim at age 5 she could not completely swim from one side of the pool to the other. Isabeau has been brave and determined from the beginning. Despite not being able to swim successfully from one end to the other in the pool, she was determined to make it. Once she could swim, she then set her goal on getting off the swim block successfully. Isabeau has confidently set and achieved goals from a very young age on the pool deck. She is always very supportive and loving to her teammates encouraging them to swim and finish their races and telling them not to give up on finishing.”
“Without coaches like Dyke Justin, Alison Innerebner, and Jory Jonas, Isabeau would not flourish successfully in swimming,” said Alisha. “They have continuously supported her and assisted her in becoming an athlete. Alison has been Isabeau’s greatest support when it comes to the deck. From getting her off the swim block to teaching her the beginnings of competition diving, she has always made time to help her when Isabeau has come to her. Dyke has been an amazing coach with Isabeau. Although he likes to talk about history with his male swimmers in the sport, he has been with her from the beginning. Whenever Isabeau feel’s she is not good enough or cannot complete a race to her standards, he has been there to encourage and reassure her. Jory has always been very kind and compassionate with Beau. She is the coach with a smile and a hug who shares a love of Narwhals with her. Jory is the one that can talk to Isabeau when she is upset or angry about a race/time. All of Isabeau’s coaches have been a great support and allow her to try to set her own standards/goals and meet them.”
Sea Devils Head Coach William Dyke Justin said: “As an nine year old swimmer Izzy was at a USA meet in down-state Michigan and at that age she usually swims a fifty meter swim and she did. I think she placed 1st or 2nd in the 50m breaststroke. She decided she wanted to swim in the ‘open’ class meaning she would compete against all comers no matter their age in a 200-meter event. Usually the ages of the swimmers are 15-18 in this event. Izzy was dwarfed by everyone on the blocks. She is small. She barely came up to everyone’s rib cage. While they were lining up she was approached by an official to check her entry and surely this was a mistake because such a small girl couldn’t be entered, could she? I explained it was an “open” class and she was entered. Izzy started strong and never took her foot off the gas. She placed 4th in the 200 meter breast stoke against 15-18 year old swimmers.”
“Izzy usually swims breastroke and she is so good at it. Last year at MTSL State meet I needed somebody and anybody to swim the butterfly leg in the medley relay. Izzy did not exactly volunteer but swam under protest because I did not have a relay otherwise. She swam a very competitive leg and the relay placed third,” added Coach William.
“Isabeau is a very talented breast stroker,” said Coach Alison. “She has the technique of girls twice her age. Isabeau also works with me on springboard diving. She is a very coachable young lady. When given instruction or is critiqued she works hard to perfect her skills. She has a bright future in the water.”
“I have been helping Isabeau with diving since she began swimming. Her strokes in the water were progressing but she was struggling with the start, the dive. Isabeau was so small, she was barely taller than the starting block, and was afraid to dive head first off the block. I got a gymnast mat out, got it wet, and put Isabeau on it. She slid in the water head first on her first dive. I then put the mat on the starting block and had her slide off of that headfirst and it was her first dive off the blocks. She then progressed to diving off the blocks with no mat. From then on, she was a diving pro. She has one of the best starts in her age group.”
“Isabeau stands at a very small stature on the pool deck,” said Alisha. “Most people glance and first take notice of her petite size when standing around her competitors and team mates. Isabeau was born with an Immune Deficiency and has been diagnosed with a digestive disease and disorder as a result of having the deficiency at a young age. She often faced competition that was not only larger in size, but also much older than her on the pool deck. USA Swimming allowed her to enter breaststroke events at her own age but in the open ages as well (13 and older). Most swimmers would be intimidated at the thought of racing competitors 5 years and older in a pool. Isabeau jumps at the chance to race against the older, larger athletes.”
“This past summer she faced her sister and raced past her in the 100 meter breaststroke, earning her a Q1 championship qualifying time,” said Alisha. “Every time she steps on the block her mood and face changes from a little girl to a competitor. She never seems intimidated and concentrates on racing. Looks come from each side of the block with inquisitive faces but her face is looking at the other end of the pool. Her face is calm and concentrated on the race. She often gets looks of shock from parents/spectators as she’s racing down the pool past the competition defying the odds of height mattering in the pool. Most people are stunned when they watch her, realizing that there is much more to her than meets the eye. Just when you think she has had an amazing race and that it might be the last race she wins, she defies odds again shocking everyone. Most people would never believe she is capable of winning until the witness her swim. I think the most exciting thing about her, is waiting to see what she will do next.”
“In Michigan there are not competitive school teams until high school,” said Alisha. “But all of the swimmers learn from an early age that academics are important and they tend to do better in the schools being athletic. Many of her teammates achieve academic success outside of the pool as well as in. Isabeau loves school and loves participating in sciences and STEMS classes. Being determined to overcome odds in the pool has taught her to be determined to try things in school. She loves coming up with experiments and ideas on how to complete a plan in a group setting. She is very good at communicating with her peers on completing tasks and goals in the classroom.”
Alisha Woodard addressed that Isabeau could tell others how to be successful in the pool. “Do not let age, height, or size be a deterrent in you wanting to be a competitive athlete,” said Alisha. “Many people think that your success is only defined in a specified type of build, height, or age. If you want to achieve something, work for it. It might not fit a standard but that shouldn’t stop you from being determined to try.”
“Odds are only societal rules and are meant to be defied. Isabeau defies the odds not only in her size/height, but also in her age. She finds comfort in competing and training with peers much older than herself. She has been determined from the start to do what she loved doing, and be great at it. If you have a child who is passionate about athletics, support them in achieving their goals. Help them set realistic goals they can achieve and some tough ones that will take their dedication, commitment, and love for the sport in order to achieve them. The little goals along the way are just as important as the large ones that take more work to obtain,” added Alisha.
Photo Credit: Quad N Productions
