Bison swimmer Kimberly Moors // Photo: Ian McCausland
Bison swimmer, a modern day Hercules
The Winnipeg Art Gallery is opening a new exhibit that features Kimberly Moors, U of M student, Bison swimmer, and single mom.
Modern Day Heroes is a new body of work by local photographer Ian McCausland. The exhibit features Winnipeg-based athletes portraying the gods and goddesses of Olympus: The Greco-Roman Collections of Berlin, the WAG’s current blockbuster show. Both exhibitions are on view until March 6.
As the WAG writes about Moors:
Hailing from Thompson Manitoba, Kimberly Moors has defied odds to put herself in the top ranks of swimming in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). Moors returned to university at 26 to pursue her education in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management at The University of Manitoba and in spite of her age, joined the U of M Bison swim team and quickly made her mark. Moors now in her fifth and final year of eligibility, has collected numerous accolades in the 50-meter butterfly and freestyle for the Bisons. But despite her passion for swimming and drive that keeps her in the gym for intense, daily training, her top prize she might say is her six-year-old daughter, Mila who inspires her each and every day.
Sophia Lee, principal dancer for Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Moe Leggett, safety for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, are celebrated alongside two university athletes: wrestler Finn Higgins of the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, and swimmer Kimberly Moors of the University of Manitoba Bisons.
“I am one of many artists over the centuries who have been inspired by the work contained in Olympus,” states McCausland. “I feel privileged to have the opportunity to channel that inspiration into creating images of our modern day heroes.”
The four athletes each selected the god they identify with most for the photoshoot – Moors picked Hercules because he was given 12 tasks and everyone thought he would fail.
“He was half god, and he was half man, and no one took him seriously, and I kind of feel the same way,” she says. “When I told people I wanted to start swimming again, no one took me seriously. So, it feels good just to be out there doing it, just like Hercules.”