Camaraderie and culture over competition: Don Heflin embodies what NYO is all about

He also works on his overall strength in the weight room and both his forearm and grip strength by climbing at the Alaska Rock Gym.

"It's just like (in) the real world, you're not going to get stronger and buffer just by playing the games when you can go out hunting and actually do something in real life and be more physical," Heflin said.

Broadened horizons are worth more than gold

Heflin was part of a large contingent of Alaska student-athletes who starred at the 2026 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon, in March.

He finished first in the Alaskan high kick and two-foot high kick and tied the world records for the U17 age group on both events as well. Heflin also won gold in the one-foot high kick.

"I was really proud that I tied the records but I wish I did break them," he said.

Taking part in those games was one of the most enjoyable experiences of his life, and not just because he had a sensational outing by racking up gold medals and making history.

"That wasn't really the highlight of my trip," Heflin said. "I was really happy to meet other Inuit people across the Arctic Circle and hear about their experiences and hear about the words they say, hear how they say different words in almost the same language."

Getting to learn and embrace other Indigenous cultures was his favorite aspect of the Arctic Winter Games. He was also able to trade clothing with athletes from places like Greenland.

"I am really proud to be Inupiaq, especially in this day and age," Heflin said. "There are many people around town and around Anchorage and around the state that don't really embrace their culture anymore."

Heflin, who is also African-American, loves that the NYO Games bring together people from all over the state who share his love for Native culture preservation.

"I wanted to be where everyone embraces 100% of their culture," Heflin said.

The drive to give his all to everything he does was instilled in him by his father, who passed away in 2021.

"He really pushed me to be the best I can and told me to do 100% on everything or just don't do it at all," Heflin said. "That's what I try and do in every single day-to-day thing, especially at these games. I try to imagine him here and saying, 'You can do better,' and that's always going through my mind. I can always do better."

His mentality when it comes to life and competing is, "If I'm not improving, what's the point of doing it?"

After his father died, he lost his love for most other sports because it doesn't feel right to play them without his dad, but his passion for NYO endures.

Being both teacher and student

Heflin enjoys helping others, especially younger kids, learn how to compete in the games as much as he does taking part in them himself.

"I love to coach other people, I love to help out younger generations as well," he said. "That is one of (my other) favorite things about these games. People don't forget when you help them actually improve in the event they're trying to be better at."

Being someone who not only honored the culture as an athlete but also helped expand and grow it by teaching it is how Heflin ultimately wants to be remembered, not just as a name in a record book.

"I love coaching and building up a community," he said.

The games aren't the only avenue in which Heflin helps preserve his culture. He is also president of the Native Student Leadership Council at his school and has interned at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, where he got to demonstrate the NYO games for a Native American reservation in Montana as well as at the Nike World headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

"It was one of my proudest moments," he said. "These games opened so many different opportunities in my life that it's almost overwhelming sometimes."

2026 Native Youth Olympics results

Toe Kick

Girls

1. Anya Tinker, Mt. Edgecumbe, 54″

2. Piper Lockwood, BSSD Team A, 52″ 3/m

3. Kimberlee Butler, Nikiski, 52″ 4/m

4. Kayleigh Bell, Bethel, 50″

5. Mila Neely, Juneau, 46″

Boys

1. Samuel Arey, NSBSD, 88″ 8/m

2. Don Heflin, Anchorage Team A, 88″ 9/m

3. Calvin Musgrave, Chickaloon, 84″ 2/m, 1m @72

4. Quentin O'Domin, Anchorage Team B, 84″ 2/m, 1m@56

5. Anakin Wassillie, LKSD Allstars, 68″ o/m

Wrist Carry

Girls

1. Jaida Downey, Tristan Tilden, Jake Neketa, Dillingham, 307′ 7 1/2"

2. Eulalia (Lea) Roman, Bruce Summerville, Carl Vanblarcom, MatSu-B, 287′

3. Bonnie Campbell, Ethan Andrew, Andrew Stoffa, Southeast Island, 216′ 7 1/2"

4. Ma'jolie Cunningham, Bruce Sommerville, Carl Vanblarcom, MatSu-A, 216′ 7 1/2"

5. Shaylee Nicholas, Richard Ivan, Mason Kinegak, Yupiit School District, 180′ 7″

Boys

1. Aiden Crow, Kolby Clark-Pruit, Rylan Clark-Pruit, Bethel, 459′ 10″

2. Deklan Nettleton, Andrew Toledo, Rogue Hemany, Unalaska, 433′ 11 1/2"

3. Lorne Foruria, Kolby Clark, Rylan Clark, Mt. Edgecumbe, 430′ 9″

4. Wasillie Evan, Richard Nose, Mason Kinegak, Yupiit, 390′ 6 1/2"

5. Kayonte Simmons, Boyuk Marsden, Maearius Evans, Nanwalek, 350′ 4 1/2"

Alaskan High Kick

Girls

1. CC Carter, Matsu A, 72″, 0 m

2. Chloe Wassillie, LKSD, 72″, 2m/72″

3. Ida Lester, LPSD, 68″, 0m

4. Anya Tinker, Mt. Edgecumbe, 68″, 1m/68″

5. Ouera Busk, BSSD, 68″, 2m/68″

Boys

1. Jayden Andrew-Parrett, ANC A, 92″, 6m/78″

2. Don Heflin, ANC B, 86″, 0m

3. Daniel Rodgers, Chickaloon, 85″, 1m

4. Frank Paul, LKSD, 85″, 2m

5. Cyril Andrews, Mt. Edgecumbe, 85″, 2m

Scissor Broad Jump

Girls

1. CC Carter, Matsu A, 31′ 3 1/2″ (New NYO state record)

2. Molly Evans, Evans Family Home School, 29′ 1 1/2″

3. Ourea Busk, BSSD A, 29′ 1″

4. Autumn Lemos, Knick Tribal, 28′ 5″

5. Chelsey Palmer, Tatitlek, 28′ 2 1/4″

Boys

1. Quentin O'Domin, Anchorage A, 36′ 7 1/2″

2. Koby Clark Pruitt, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, 36′ 6 1/2″

3. Calvin Musgrave, Chickaloon, 35′ 3 3/4″

4. Bruce Sommerville, Mat Su A, 35′ 3 1/4″

5. Connor Hamilton, Valdez High, 33′ 10 3/4″

Inuit/Eskimo Stick Pull

Girls

1. Sosi Swetzof, Native Village of Atak

2. Rachel Connor, Mat Su A

3. Justine Erickson-Bradney, Bethel

4. Rhozalita Moonin, Nanwalek

5. Remedy Smith, Mat Su B

Boys

1. Jubal Perry, Chenega

2. Tasilealofa (Tasi) Taala, Mat Su B

3. David Knopp, Interior A

4. Boyuk Marsden, Kenaitze

5. Khoi (Sonny) Nguyen, Unalaska

One-hand Reach

Girls

1. Chloe Wassillie, LKSD, 62″ (tied NYO record)

2. Deann Martin, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, 58″, 2m (58″)

3. Lilianna Simmonds-Rexford, NSBSD A, 58″, 2m (54″)

4. Ourea Busk, BSSD A, 56″, 0m

5. Aliyah Adams, Sterling, 56″, 1m

Boys

1. Tommy Sheldon, NWABSD, 68″

2. Staxx Van Kirk, Nikiski, 66″, 1m

3. Macarius Mandregan, Interior A, 66″, 2m

4. Rylan Clark-Pruitt, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, 64″

5. TIE: Karlton Peter, LKSD and Ben Wilde, Anchorage B: 63″

Two-foot High Kick

Girls

1. Daisy Vanblarcom, Mat Su A, 76″ (0,)

2. Rowan Matney, Ninilchik, 76″ (1m)

3. Molly Evans, Homer, 76″ (3m)

4. Avis Davis, LKSD, 70″ (om)

5. CC Carter, Mat Su B, 70″ (1m)

Boys

1. Samuel Arey, North Slope Borough School District A, 98″

2. Don Heflin, Anchorage B, 94″

3. Kayonte Simmons, Nanwalek, 92″ (3m)

4. Kolby Clark-Pruitt, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, 92″ (4m)

5. Carl Vanblarcom, Mat Su A, 88″ (1m)