Myra Champaign

General

• 15 year old prodigy athlete
• Father: Klaus Lowrie
• Birthday is sometime in October or November.

• Was diagnosed with Walker's Syndrome at a very early age.
  • Took various enhancers as a medical treatment until she was 8.
  • During this time, she was assisted personally by Dale Robarding, Director of Research at Cognivia.

• The eighth youngest player ever admitted into PCAG competition.
• Recognized as being one of the best young players on the scene since Serena Duncan's debut eight years ago.

• Defeated Bryce Goran, eliminating him from competition (surprisingly early in the season).
• Was honoured to play against Ryan Cahill, even though she lost very very badly.

• As any 15 year-old would be, she is bubbly with adoration over Alejo Jackson.

Champaign Sparkles Controversial PCAG phenom Myra Champaign set a fantastic bar for next year's championship competition last night in a showy exhibition match against Oliver Pohele. Champaign has said she is "determined to improve on last year's performance." --The Sentinel, 19-JUN-06

Scandal

• As a child, suffered from cognitive and developmental disorders, and was treated with a range of experimental enhancement medications
• These enhancements are considered to be very unsporting, by some in the community.
• A specially convened committee of PCAG officials judged in favour of allowing her to compete
• The controversy is about her participation and the fundamental definition of cognitive enhancement by drugs
• A campaign against her entrance into the PCAG is being led by Jonas Sawgrass of the Alliance for Clean Players
• On 17-JUN-05, during her debut match (against Mikhail Terpening), protesters bought out a block of tickets and jeered the 14-year-old athlete.
  • She left the stage crying.
  • She still managed to win against Terpening.
  • After the whole thing, Alejo Jackson sent her an encouraging note and a signed poster.
• Following her 13-JUL-05 win against Bryce Goran, opponents to Champaign insisted it to be clear evidence of "enhanced" players defeating "clean" players.
• Her 12-SEP-05 loss to Ryan Cahill was not seen as a victory for "clean" players
  • Rather, wound up simply being another cheap excuse for Jonas Sawgrass of the Alliance for Clean Players to rail on about vigilance.
• Finally, during her 03-DEC-05 match, she fell just short of making the december cuts, and was ejected from championship play.
  • She remains optimistic, and intends to work harder to be sharper next year.

References

• Perplex City Sentinel
  • article, 31-MAY-05 "Champaign Accepted into Competition" (link)
  • article, 10-JUN-05 "View from Earth: Prodigal Prodigy" (link)
  • article, 17-JUN-05 "Champaign Leaves Match in Tears" (link)
  • letter, 13-JUL-05 "Good Sportsmanship" (link)
  • article, 14-JUL-05 "Goran Out of Games" (link)
  • article, 03-AUG-05 "PCAG Championship Season Opens" (link)
  • article, 12-SEP-05 "Champaign Falls, Cahill Climbs" (link)
  • article, 11-NOV-05 "Iona Interviews... Myra Champaign" (link)
  • news in brief, 07-DEC-05 "Champaign Out of Play" (link)
  • article, 12-JAN-06 "Iona Interviews... Dale Robarding" (link)
  • more news in brief, 19-JUN-06 "Champaign Sparkles" (link)

• Michiko Clark's Talk Sport interview (link)