For Team Canada athlete Nandini Sharma, the road to the Commonwealth Games has been defined by resilience, perseverance and the people who have helped her along the way.

This summer, Sharma, known as one of Canada’s top wheelchair racers, will proudly wear the maple leaf at her second Commonwealth Games – an achievement that seemed unimaginable when she first discovered the sport less than a decade ago.

Her journey began on 15 May 2016 at her very first competition in Ontario. Despite battling rain, snow and hail in true Canadian fashion, Sharma found something that day that would shape her future.

“I fell in love with the sport,” she says. “And now I get to compete at my second Commonwealth Games. That’s crazy.”

Representing Canada on one of sport’s biggest stages is something Sharma doesn’t take for granted. Every training session, every competition and every challenge has led to this opportunity, and she’s determined to make the most of it.

As she prepares to line up against some of the Commonwealth’s best athletes, Sharma hopes all the hard work and sacrifices will come together when it matters most. But regardless of the result, simply earning the chance to compete for Canada again in the Women’s 400m and 1500m T54 events is something she is incredibly proud of.

Behind every athlete is a team of people who help make moments like these possible, and for Sharma, one person stands above all others.

“When I think about everyone who’s had such a massive impact on my career, I think about my friends and family, my coaches and my teammates. But the person who comes to mind most is my coach, Lisa Myers.”

Ahead of her first Commonwealth Games, Sharma’s father passed away suddenly – a devastating loss that left her questioning whether she wanted to compete, or even continue in the sport she loved.

Rather than pushing her towards competition, Myers gave Sharma exactly what she needed: patience, understanding and unwavering support.

“She just encouraged me to come to practice because she knew I loved it. She let me process my grief in the way that I needed to.”

For months, training became about far more than preparing for international competition.

“For about six months after every practice, I cried,” Sharma recalls. “She either cried with me, held me while I cried, or just sat there with me and let me do whatever I needed to do.”

Looking back, Sharma has no doubt about the difference that support made.

“I don’t know if I’d still be in the sport if it wasn’t for her.”

That experience has shaped the athlete she has become and the legacy she hopes to leave beyond competition.

“I hope that one day I can look back and know that I had just as much of an impact on another athlete’s life as she’s had on mine.”

As another Commonwealth Games approaches, Sharma knows success isn’t measured solely by finishing positions. It’s about embracing the opportunity, trusting the work that has gone into reaching this point and representing Canada with pride.

She also has some simple advice for the next generation of athletes.

“Give back as much as you can.”

She still carries with her a mantra from her first coach, Ken Tom, that has guided her throughout her career.

“Plan the work, work the plan.”

It’s a reminder to trust the preparation, believe in the process and have confidence in everything you’ve done before stepping onto the start line.

And as the countdown to the Commonwealth Games continues, there’s one final piece of advice Sharma hasn’t forgotten.

“It’s supposed to be fun,” she says. “So just have some fun.”

When Nandini Sharma steps onto the start line in Team Canada’s colours this summer, she’ll be carrying more than years of training. She’ll be carrying the support of those who helped her through life’s toughest moments, the pride of representing her country once again, and the belief that all the hard work has prepared her to perform on one of the biggest stages in Commonwealth sport.