By Jasmine Franklin
As hundreds of children filled the Ponoka Elementary School gymnasium with the sounds of Olympic theme song “I Believe,” silver medal Olympian Jessica Gregg couldn’t hold back her tears.
“As much as I heard that song recently, I’ve never heard it as good as I just did,” Gregg said to the children.
Returning from her Olympic journey with a silver medal in team speed skating, Gregg shared her experiences March 4 with the students and staff who helped sponsor her way there.
“We came together as a school to follow your Olympic dream,” assistant principal Nicole Rawlinson, said to Gregg. “Because of you, they too believe they can do anything if they really believe.”
On Feb. 25, Gregg and other members of her Canadian women’s short track speed skating team won a silver medal in the 3,000 metre relay. The team was originally awarded a bronze medal but was given silver after the South Korean team was disqualified.
“I felt that even getting a bronze medal was an absolute honour,” Gregg told the Ponoka News. “But getting silver was even better!”
Gregg began to get emotional talking about stepping on the podium to receive her medal.
“It was an amazing moment I waited my whole life to feel,” Gregg said. “The crowds were insane and it was so loud I couldn’t hear anything.”
The young Olympian supported the Own the Podium program that helped to mentally prepare and encourage athletes for the challenge they were soon to face in the Olympics.
“We came out with the most (gold) medals out of any country and I think that did have something to do with the program,” Gregg said. “(This Olympics) really gave the whole nation (that sense of) pride for their country.”
Gregg was disappointed with her fourth-place finish in the 500 metre race, only because she knew she could do better. But still smiling, added she was proud to be a part of it and is looking forward and hoping to make the journey to the Olympics again.
“It’s an experience I will never forget for the rest of my life,” she said. “It’s still so hard for me to express what I felt in words.”
The elementary school began fundraising for Gregg as early as November through the Adopt-an-Athlete program. In the end, the school raised about $800 for Gregg to help support training and other costs she needed.
But the educational experience wasn’t a one-way street, said Rawlinson.
“The whole school had one thing in common — Jessica,” she said. “It motivated the kids and really brought us all together.”
With the help of teachers and parents, students learned about the values of believing in goals, chasing dreams and the importance of nutrition.
In appreciation for lifting school spirits, PES awarded Gregg with their own silver medals each representing a trait she possessed such as courage, being a “true Canadian,” pride and persistence. Each class awarded Gregg with a medal.
And last but not least, the journey of one Olympian and an entire school was bound together in a scrapbook made by the teachers. The scrapbook included photos of Gregg at the school and hundreds of writings from the children.
With open arms and teary eyes, Gregg accepted all the gifts with pride. An overwhelming experience topped with the love from a school all made for one wonderful Olympic story.
“I have never felt so much pride in my country. Thinking back to being on that podium made me so proud to be Canadian and an athlete,” Gregg said. “Whatever your dreams may be work hard and never give up because your dreams and goals can come true.”