Pretty Tough Girl: Kayla Pelletier

(Editors Note: We received a note from a proud mom recently that said, in part, “My family has been a fan of your site for a few years and have watched you grow into a great leader and advocate for female athletics. My daughter is only seven but already participates in numerous organized and action sports – and regularly kicks the boys butts. We taught her she can do anything without fear, and she lives this philosophy, to the bone.” So, without further ado, meet Kayla – one amazingly awesome Pretty Tough Girl!)

Name: Kayla Pelletier

Age: 7

Sports: Quarter Midget Racing, Softball, Martial Arts, Gymnastics, Snow boarding, Skateboarding, Sheep Riding, Calf Herding, and Football.

Hometown: Connecticut

What’s your fave sport?:
I love them all. But softball, racing and snowboarding stand out the most. I would say martial arts but  to me its not a sport; like my dad says,  it’s the art that has to come first. I love all sports.  If a sport challenges me and gives me a chance to win at it, then I’ll try it.

How long have you been competing?
I have only been racing for two months; but I like going fast and kicking butt! I have been playing softball for five years, I switch between the boys baseball and the girls softball. I have been doing martial arts since I was old enough to stand. I have been doing sports and competitions since I have been two. My dad was supposed to buy a tool box when I was one and a half years old and instead he came home with a quad [racer]. From there he talked my mom into all the rest. I started skateboarding when I was two and snowboarding when I was three thanks to our friend Maddie.

What are your goals for the next five years (and what do you want to do when you grow up)?
In five years I want to be making a move towards the Olympic team, I’m just not sure in what yet but I will be going for something. When I grow up I’d like to be a professional athlete and have a big house with fancy cars. Basically, I want to be the best! I’ll take some of my money and run for President. I’d like to be the President of the United States because then not only will the U.S. Olympic Team kick butt, but the President could kick all their butts too! That would be cool, plus I’m a girl.

What do love most about sports?
Sports let me have fun and meet new kids. I love all sports because I love the feelings of trying, being scared, and the excitement of maybe winning. Plus after I always get a treat! Sports let me feel like I’m famous, cause when I go places people are always saying “Hey that’s the girl who plays tackle football with the boys” or other things like they recognize me as the girl who hit the home run with the ponytail sticking out the top of my helmet. I also love walking through the hallways of school on Monday with the trophies I’ve just won.

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from sports?
The biggest lesson I have learned from playing sports is to go with the flow, or it is what it is; like my dad says. Sports or people sometimes make me mad or make me feel like I can’t do something, but when I calm down and chill then I realize I can be better. Even if I’m only better by say 1%, it’s still better. My dad taught me that if I get up and brush myself off and get better by 1% or even 15% then eventually it all adds up to 100% better and that’s better than not getting up and being a 0%.

What have you learned about teamwork?
I learned teamwork is everywhere and it works! Even though I am the only one in the race car and it’s up to me if I win or lose, I still need a team. I need a mechanic and good advice. My family shows me good teamwork, by letting my do all these sports. I also learned that sometimes the teamwork is not just about the playing of a sport, my football team had good teamwork but the coaches are the ones that forgot about the teamwork. Sometimes coaches teach kids teamwork but are too busy all trying to be the head coach that they forget to do what matters most… teach us kids and stop worrying about their kids or the other coaches, hello…

How do you balance school and sports?
I balance school and sports with good teamwork. I love doing sports but I also love school so for me its easy. I do my homework in the car, if my family tells me what I need to do I just do it.

List some awards or accolades you’ve received.
I’ve been interviewed by RacerX TV at a freestyle show, and have gotten very good at quading since doing it for over five years. I’ve been an all star softball player for all five years and and have hit at least one home run in every game I’ve ever played in. I sat in a race car only three times and won the first raced I competed in. I’ve also won seven races and broke two track records and have only been in my car a total of 11 times. I am a champion at three different tracks already! I never touched a sheep or a calf and my father dared me to enter a youth rodeo if he entered a dirt bike race. Well I stepped up and entered.. and yes won! I am the only girl to play tackle football in our travel league and was a key player. I also scored two touch downs! I’m not a kicker or anything like that; I am a running back and defensive line.

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?
My favorite Male Athlete is Travis Pastrana, he is awesome! He does everything. My favorite Female Athlete is Maddie Schafferick, I saw her snowboard when I was three and I think that she was so cool and I liked seeing her fly through the air.

Who’s your fave coach or role model?
My favorite coach or role model is my father! He has taught me everything, on and off the fields. Kids should look at their parents as role models and not these famous people, they are good at what we see; sports. But that doesn’t teach you how to grow up and behave or anything, and that’s not their job anyways. It’s my dad’s and he’s good at it!

How do you deal with the boys who don’t think you can/should compete with them?
The boys never bother me about competing with them, they are like a bunch of big brothers. They actually pump me up and want me to go beat some boy, they like to brag about me.. I think that sometimes their dads are the ones that can’t handle it, their sons getting beat by a girl!

What superpower would you like to have?
I wouldn’t want any super powers. My dad said I was born with talents and with hard work I can be the best in the world. If I had superpowers it would be cheating. I think I’m already super!

Do you consider yourself Pretty Tough? Why or why not?
I AM FOR SURE, PRETTY TOUGH! I don’t like to say it but I think I’m pretty and I know I’m tough. Tough doesn’t just mean I can kick butt, it also means I know how to handle myself. My parents have always taught me to toughen up and this means tough is about character, respect, and most importantly discipline.

Check out some video of amazing Kayla showing how tough she is on a mechanical bull!