People in Sport - Mikka Eaves

Born and raised in Lethbridge, 19-year-old short track speed skater Mikka Eaves has spent nearly her entire life on the ice. After growing up skating in local arenas and discovering a love for speed skating at just seven years old, she moved to Calgary at 16 to train at a high-performance centre. This past summer, her journey took her even farther east to Montreal, where she now lives, trains at the National Training Centre, and works part-time as a pharmacy assistant.

Mikka’s sport story started in figure skating, but a flyer her mother spotted introduced her to speed skating — the sport that would shape her life. Today, she is focused on her athletic career, though she brings with her eight years of coaching experience and hopes to build on that role in the future.

Her competitive highlights reflect her steady rise. In 2023, she earned the title of vice-Canadian Junior Champion in the 1000m, a result that placed her as the first alternate for the World Junior Championships. She is currently ranked 8th in Canada in the 500m, and she also holds the unofficial Alberta records in both the 1500m distance.

One of the biggest challenges Mikka has faced is the difference in competition depth between Western and Eastern Canada. With short track being far more popular in Quebec, Alberta skaters often miss crucial tactical development. Moving to Montreal has given her access to a larger, highly competitive training group — a change she describes as essential to her continued growth.

Looking ahead, Mikka keeps her long-term dreams, including representing Canada at the Olympic Games, close, but her focus remains on the steps in front of her. This season, she’s aiming for a top-10 national ranking and chipping away at the current 500m Alberta record of 42.9 seconds.

People in Sport highlights a variety of members of the Lethbridge sport community. Sport thrives when equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are at its core, ensuring everyone feels welcome and has equitable access. These stories celebrate their contributions as participants, coaches, builders, volunteers, or officials.

We are grateful to feature these profiles each month in the City of Lethbridge Recreation & Culture Guide.

This collection brings together stories published since 2022—first through the Pathway to Participation for Indigenous Families initiative, and now through the Sport for All initiative.