Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Alexandra Gates, a 16-year-old from Eagle Mountain, excels in martial arts.
- She advocates for childhood cancer awareness, inspired by her father's and cousin's battles.
- Alexandra founded Fight with Gates to support cancer-affected families, balancing sports and pageantry.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN — An Eagle Mountain teen is breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes one challenge at a time — all while championing families battling cancer.
It all began when Alexandra Gates was just a kindergartener. With a father in law enforcement who also taught judo jujitsu, Alexandra was captivated by the sport. She would watch her dad at the gym until she finally convinced him she was ready to compete. Fast forward 10 years, at 16, Alexandra isn't just dominating on the mat — she's commanding the stage, too.
"She's not your typical girl," said Andy Gates, beaming with pride as he described his daughter.
By nature, Alexandra is fiercely competitive — a trait she clearly inherited from both her dad and her mom, Erin Gates.
The Gates household is brimming with medals, but they only tell part of Alexandra's story.
"She's been on the mats, as far as combat sports, since she was 5," Erin Gates recalls.
"She started doing competitions in judo and jujitsu when she was like 6," Andy Gates said.
Martial arts became more than a sport for Alexandra — it became a community.
"I found my people," she said, with a smile. "I found the people who were most like me."
When she entered high school, Alexandra took her skills to the wrestling team.
"She comes in day one and she's just throwing everybody," Andy Gates remembers.
But Alexandra's story is more than her prowess in combat sports. Beneath her fierce exterior lies a compassionate heart.
"She's super competitive with sports but then also really loving and caring with others," said Erin Gates.
That love for people, coupled with a personal connection to cancer, led Alexandra to a new arena: the pageant circuit. Determined to make a difference, Alexandra chose childhood cancer awareness as her platform.
"Her cousin, at 2½, got diagnosed with leukemia," Erin Gates explains. Alexandra was 8 years old at the time, but the fight against cancer became even more personal last year.
"My dad was diagnosed with cancer last March," Alexandra said softly.
Her father — her rock and the man who taught her about resilience — was suddenly facing his toughest battle yet.
"It was definitely a really hard time for my family because I had to watch my dad go from perfectly normal, perfectly healthy to not being able to stand and walk on his own," Alexandra shares.
True to her determined spirit, Alexandra channeled her pain into purpose.
She created Fight with Gates to help ease the stress and anxiety faced by families of children fighting cancer.
"Fight with Gates was created so that I could help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that's put on cancer families when their child is going through cancer," said Alexandra.
Her initiative quickly gained momentum. She organized fundraisers and charity events, all while balancing sports, school and pageantry.
In November, her hard work and advocacy earned her the title of Miss Oquirrh Mountains Teen — her second crown after winning Miss Eagle Mountain a few years prior.
From combat sports champion to pageant queen to devoted daughter, Alexandra is proving she is anything but ordinary.
And she doesn't stop there. Alexandra is also the Future Farmers of America (FFA) chairwoman on the livestock team, advising and organizing events for her chapter.
As for Andy Gates, his cancer is in remission and he is looking to make a full recovery.
