Third Time is the Charm for Olympic Pitcher
by Alex Houser Vukoder
Team Canada has named their official roster and Bath resident, Lauren Bay Regula is headed to her third Olympics as a member of Team Canada’s Olympic softball team.
“It’s an honor to be named to the Canadian Olympic team and to stand beside my teammates. This year’s team is the best team Canada has fielded. These women inspired me more than I can express,” expressed Regula when announcing the news.
Regula is beyond excited but this journey hasn’t been without detours. Regula thought that she was retired from softball after pitching for Team Canada in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympic games. Eight years later, she came out of retirement to help Canada win a bronze medal at the World Championships and from there she was invited to join Canada’s training camp from which the 2020 Olympic team would be selected. Regula joined training camp in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but before the final team roster could even be announced, the COVID pandemic caused the games to be postponed by a year.
Regula experienced a range of emotions with this news – 2020 was to be the first time softball would be a part of the games since being cut along with baseball in 2008. Even with the postponement and uncertainty, she didn’t lose her desire to complete at the Olympic level. She began training in Florida and Illinois alongside her teammates this spring.
“COVID protocols have added a new level to the strain and stress of it. A big part of my desire to return was for my whole family to experience the Olympics with me and while we don’t have all the details yet, athletes will be expected to be in a bubble for several months ahead of the games and outside spectators will not be able to travel to Japan,” said Regula.
Ultimately, for Regula, the sacrifice to fulfill her Olympic dreams will be worth it as she strives to be a good role model for her kids.
“I think it is really inauthentic to tell my kids to chase their dreams and that they can do whatever they want because I really do believe that, and then not go ahead and do that myself,” she said.
Lauren and her husband, Dave Regula have three children: Will, an 8-year-old second-grader at Richfield Elementary; Jack, a 10-year-old fourth-grader at Bath Elementary; and Grace, a 11-year-old fifth-grader at Bath.
They own TrAk Athletics in Fairlawn and Regula also created The Strong Mom Movement- a coaching program to help moms look, feel and perform their best.
“Moms often don’t give themselves the same consideration as they do everyone else in the family. One of the goals of Strong Mom is to remind moms that our families will be better when we prioritize our well-being,” Regula explains.
She helped with the Revere Recreational Softball League clinics over the summer, sharing her experience and love of the sport. Her advice for parents and kids playing sports is to have fun.
“Sports bring out amazing things in children and teaches life lessons that can get lost in counting wins and losses. Having fun while learning how to collaborate, how to deal with disappointment and how to bounce back should be the focus,” said Regula.
The summer games officially run July 23 – August 8, 2021 however, softball starts before opening ceremonies with Regula’s first game on July 21 against Mexico. Follow Lauren’s journey via her blog on the TrAk Athletics site and on Instagram @laurenregula. ∞