Redshirt thrower was ‘prepared’ to leave Canada for fresh start in Miami

Peter Holland Jr. // Assistant Sports Director

After signing to do track and field for FIU, freshman thrower Gabby Rains is still adjusting to the tropical climate in Miami after crossing the border from her home country of Canada.

Rains was born in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, from a New Zealand family.

According to the 18-year-old freshman, she doesn’t label herself as Canadian because she also has other backgrounds. Her father, a former thrower, moved to Canada at the age of 13 from New Zealand, and her mother, also born in New Zealand, is of Syrian descent.

“It’s kind of confusing,” said Rains.” “Canadian is not really an ethnicity. So technically I’m half Kiwi and half Syrian.”

Rains was highly recruited by Ryan Heberling, the track and field coach, because of her past success competing in Canadian meets.

“I got an email by coach Ryan last year literally on my first day of class,” said Rains. “I came down for a visit and I fell in love with the school. I was pretty skeptical just because of the distance, but as soon as I came down, I knew I was going to be fine.”

After getting in contact with the sports fitness department, Heberling didn’t need to put much effort to commit Rains to a visit at FIU.

“What’s good about recruiting Gabby is that we didn’t feel we had to sell her,” said Heberling. “She fit with the team right away. It was the whole idea of going away. It was really exciting and it was a good.”

At 18 years old, Rains was mentally prepared for her transition, leaving everything behind and starting a new life in Miami. Once she step foot on campus, she felt right at home and forgot about her concerns.

“It was hard leaving. Just leaving my family and friends, I thought I was going to miss them, but I was prepared,” said Rains.

However, when she began training with the Panthers, she had to adjust to the climate change.

“That was definitely the hardest part,” said Rains. “The humidity felt like I was breathing under water when I am at practice. The weight room was blessed because it was inside and there was air conditioner. Because it’s so cold there [Canada] I have to warm up for a solid hour, where as here, I just show up and I’m warm.”

Rains will be redshirting in the Spring as the team currently works on strength and conditioning for the 2017 season.