By Christian Cotroneo
Four-year-old Martha Steeper is going for gold.
Stretching her arms, she grimly surveys the track. A group of well-wishers assemble on the sidelines. But she’s not smiling. She’s come to compete.
Her shoelaces are tied.
Her pigtails are poised.
Above, a light turns from red to green. And Martha turns on the jets.
Nine seconds later, she has bolted down the 17-metre track to a rousing ovation.
Good effort — for a four-year-old human. But the gold medal goes to the cheetah, who could tear up the track in a blistering 0.532 seconds.
At the Canadian Museum of Nature’s new exhibit, the competition is fierce. And fun. Coming in the wake of the Sydney Olympics and building momentum for next year’s Jeux de Francophonie, “Animal Athletes” pits children against animals in Olympic-style competition.
“It’s designed especially for children,” says museum spokesperson Marie-Thérèse D’Amour. “We want them to fill up with energy and learn at the same time that we have other champions in the world. Those champions are the animals.”
Before they can challenge the champs, children pass through a warm-up chamber. Here, by comparing themselves to various animals, they can prove they are, in fact, human. After measuring their weight, height and heartbeat, contenders enter the main room to size up their opponents.
Today, a smattering of children flock from activity to activity, testing themselves against the physical records set by animals as well as each other.
Five-year-old Jesse Carter falls prey early to competition anxiety. When Martha challenges him to the foot race, he wrings his hands nervously before bowing out.
The competition is clearly getting to some of the athletes. There’s even a hint of brisk attitude when Martha deals with the press.
“Why do you like the exhibit,” she is asked.
“Cause I like it,” comes the matter-of-fact reply, before she moves on to the balance beam.
While many animals use a tail for balance, Martha’s got a distinct advantage.
Pigtails.
Tilting her arms and head from side to side, she deftly navigates the beam and leaps triumphantly from the platform.
“Everyone who comes in has a ball,” says D’Amour. “The thing is to get them learning and moving at the same time.”
Movement isn’t a problem. From the monkey bars to the balance beam, the events have children swinging, running and leaping to learn.
Martha’s next challenge is the long jump — a sport dominated by the humble flea. It can jump 200 times its own body length.
Demonstrating the same conviction she’s shown time and time again, Martha crouches at the starting line, her tiny body a tensed spring.
Her eyes narrow. She jumps, then lands mere inches from her starting point.
Knowing how to make the best of an unfortunate situation, she continues bunny-hopping forward until she reaches the farthest point on the track.
“I jumped even farther than that,” she says, pointing derisively at a picture of the flea.
Corruption is nothing new at this competition.
Jesse takes his cue from Martha.
“Look how much I jumped,” he announces after stealthily positioning himself at the end of the long jump track.
Between playing coach and referee, Martha’s aunt finds the time to play. Although her long jump wouldn’t worry an African sharp-nosed frog, Jennifer Strom says the new exhibit is taking its own great leap forward.
“I think it’s good to showcase physical activity for kids because it’s certainly something they’re not getting in school,” she says.
Back at the race track, Martha’s two-year-old sister, Maggie, is having engine trouble. She’s switching lanes recklessly, careening dangerously close to other runners. She’s obviously out of control. Finally, she pulls over for a diaper change.
Minutes later, she’s back from her pit stop with a clean bill of diapers. Faster than ever, she burns up the track and beats her own best time. She’s not as fleet as the ostrich. Or the squid. Or her older sister.
But she’s got heart.