Alyx Treasure made history in 2016 when she became the first Prince George athlete to earn a spot in the Summer Olympic Games.
And once she got to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she did her hometown - and her country - proud.
At the Olympics, the 24-year-old Treasure represented Canada in women's high jump. In the qualifying round, in front of 50,000 spectators at Olympic Stadium, she pulled off a personal-best leap of 1.94 metres (six feet, 4.37 inches) on her third and final attempt and that was enough to send her to the 17-athlete final. Even though Treasure was under enormous pressure, she had room to spare as she sailed over the bar. In making the final, she accomplished the Olympic goal she had set for herself.
A couple days later, on Aug. 20, Treasure was back at the stadium and, this time, all the pressure was off. She was basically jumping in bonus territory and just wanted to make the most of the experience.
Treasure and the rest of the finalists started with the bar at 1.88m, which was her personal record a year earlier. With the opening height weighing on her mind, she missed on her first two attempts but was successful on her third. So, it was on to the next round.
For that stage of the competition, the bar was moved up to 1.93m - just one centimetre shy of the personal-best height Treasure cleared in qualifying. This time, she knocked the bar off on all three attempts and was eliminated. In the final standings, she ended up 17th - remarkable for a first-time Olympian.
"That was amazing - I think it was the best competition of my whole career," Treasure told The Citizen, in reference to the qualifying round. "I handled myself really well and jumped a (personal record) and I couldn't ask for anything more than that. I just had a lot of fun.
"The way I prepared this year, mentally, I knew what my strengths and weaknesses are and how I like to compete. Thankfully I'm a very relaxed competitor and I don't need to get hyped up. I don't get affected by other people and kept that mindset and it went well."
Treasure grew up as a member of the Prince George Track and Field Club and was trained in high jump by Tom Masich.
During Treasure's high school days at D.P. Todd, she put together one of the most successful careers in the history of B.C. athletics. Starting in Grade 10, she was the provincial high school champion for three consecutive years. The only other B.C. high jumper to accomplish that feat was Mission's Debbie Brill, who claimed high school titles in 1969, 1970 and 1971. Brill later wore Canadian colours at the 1972, 1976 and 1984 Olympics.
Treasure started post-secondary athletics at UBC but quickly transferred to Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. The move helped her reach new heights in her sport and she went on to become the Canadian champion in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Treasure is now aiming for the 2017 world championships, set for London in August. Her new goal is to beat Brill's Canadian record of 1.98m. And, of course, she's focused on another Olympic appearance in Tokyo in 2020.
"Physically I'm (where I need to be) and I know I'm capable of a lot more and Rio was a very good experience to see that I can not only compete with these girls but I can beat them," Treasure said shortly after the 2016 Games. "I just need to make sure when I get to a final again I am there and putting myself in position to be one of the top competitors and not struggle through it."
