Madison Shoemaker is hardly ever seen these days without her tennis racket. It's no wonder she loves the game so much.
At just 10 years old, the Pender Harbour girl is a rising tennis star on the Coast. She qualified for the B.C. Summer Games last weekend and is looking forward to the event.
"I'm really excited. I've never been to an event like that before," Madison said.
The games are set for July 15 to 18 in Abbotsford. The B.C. Summer Games are held every second year in July and will bring more than 4,000 participants competing in 26 sports ranging from athletics and archery to cycling, sailing and wrestling.
Qualifications and registrations close this weekend. A full list of athletes should be finalized by June 21.
Madison will be competing in the U12 girls' singles competition representing Zone 5, which encompasses Vancouver, the North Shore, Squamish and the Sunshine Coast.
She is the third athlete from the Coast to qualify for the games so far. Volleyball players Kyla Richey and Rachel Van Wersch are also heading to the games.
Madison started playing tennis two years ago, taking lessons through the Sunshine Coast Regional District program at the tennis bubble. After learning the basics, she took a real liking to the game and hasn't stopped since.
"My mom started playing for exercise and I joined her," Madison said. "We then realized how good I was and I really started getting serious about my play."
The family got in touch with a friend and fellow tennis player John Bell, who now serves as a private coach to the young star. She also takes the ferry across to West Vancouver once a week to practice with the club there.
"I play tennis every day and try my hardest to beat my parents, and very often I succeed," she said. "Tennis is my favourite sport and it's a lot of fun once you learn to play."
She has already been successful in several tournaments and now, by qualifying for the B.C. Summer Games, success seems to be a rite of passage for Madison.
The B.C. Games also happen to fall on her 11th birthday. Winning a gold medal would be a great birthday present.
Despite her young age, Madison already has set her goals high.
"I want to keep getting top marks in school and stick with tennis to get a full scholarship to Stanford University," she said. "I want to be on the top women's team and grow up to be a pro tennis player."
