| Kathryn Durant named Vancouver 2010 community torchbearer for Swift Current |
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| SW Sk Content - Sports |
| Tuesday, 24 November 2009 20:54 |
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Contributed Swift Current When the Olympic Flame arrives in Swift Current in just seven weeks time, it will be proudly carried by Kathryn Durant, nominated as the community’s torchbearer to light the celebration cauldron for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. Durant is a true Olympian, having taken home silver medals in both the 2003 and 2007 Special Olympic Canada games in figure skating. Durant has also represented Saskatchewan at the Special Olympic National Winter Games in 2004 and 2008 where she won bronze and gold medals. In 2007, Durant was awarded with Special Olympic Female Athlete of the year. A very deserving recipient. Durant dreams of representing Canada at the World Special Olympic games in 2013 as a Level 5 figure skater and pair dancer. Her drive to succeed never fails to amaze. As an athlete she trains hard and lives by the athlete’s oath. She never gives up even when everyone else would quit she carries on trying until she masters the task to the best of her ability. Durant cross-trains in swimming and keeps up a vigorous gym program to help keep her physically fit. She uses the many skills she has learned from sport to help her in her daily life. To quote Durant from a recent talk she gave. How to win in sport and life: “always be on time; set goals; work hard every practice; improve your skills every practice; do it right every time so if you forget you still do it right; work hard even when you don’t feel like it; always do your best at competition; always try to have a good attitude”. Durant is a special athlete who embodies the spirit and commitment of the Olympic Games. Overcoming her own personal obstacles she has achieved success through her participation in Special Olympics. “We’re pleased to announce Kathryn Durant as Swift Current’s official torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games,” said Mayor Jerrod Schafer. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Kathryn, who is one of 12,000 Canadians chosen to carry the Olympic Flame on the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history. On January 10th, we want everyone in our community to join together with other Canadians and show the world how inspired we feel by the Olympic Flame and its message of peace, brotherhood and friendship.” To celebrate the arrival of the flame, a number of events have been planned starting November 25th at Irwin School where Kelsie Hendry, a three-time national pole vaulting champion and current Canadian record holder, will share her story. Kelsie, a member of the 2008 Olympic team in Beijing, China is continuing her training with the hopes of becoming an Olympic finalist in 2012. On November 26th, Durant and other Saskatchewan torchbearers will be honoured at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building by Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Dustin Duncan in celebration of torchbearer cauldron lighters; the Torch Run and the Saskatchewan’s spirit. Later that evening, Mayor Schafer will officially raise the Olympic Torch Relay Flag at the annual tree lighting ceremony at the Bank of Montreal Courtyard, downtown Swift Current. These events will launch the countdown to the January 10th event where Durant will carry the Olympic Torch on its final 300 metres to the stage where she will light the 1.3-metre high celebration cauldron, in a move similar to the dramatic highlight of what will occur during the Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The 106-day Olympic Torch Relay, which is presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada, will visit more than 1,030 communities and places of interest in every province and territory. On February 12, 2010, the Olympic Flame will make its way to downtown Vancouver to light the Olympic Cauldron in a magical and awe-inspiring moment before a television audience of three billion people worldwide, signalling the kick off to the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, visit www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay. |
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