Olympian Clara Hughes visits Metro
It was a change on short notice. Rex Murphy was supposed to address the fundraising benefit dinner for the Boys and Girls Club of Moncton at the Delta Beausejour last night.
Instead, Canada’s most decorated Olympian, Clara Hughes, who is also the only athlete in the world to hold multiple medals in both summer and winter Olympics, stepped onto the stage and wowed the about 250 patrons at the dinner.
Judging from the number of standing ovations they gave Clara, no one was disappointed by the switch or by the message and encouragement she brought.
The Canadian fervor that erupted over the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in February carried over to the Moncton gathering last night.
Smiling, warm, bubbly, Clara shared with her audience how she transformed her life as a “lost teenager” into achieving Olympic greatness in both cycling and speed skating.
Sitting at home as a teenager, she happened to flick on the television and caught an Olympic speed skating race and something clicked, something connected, that literally changed her life, she said.
Maybe it was the emotion, the fluid skating and beautiful movement that captivated her, but to this day, she’s not sure.
Many years and plenty of hard work later, she found herself bound for Olympic history.
Sports literally saved her life, she told a room of intent listeners.
There were no boys and girls clubs or youth programs for her when she was a youth to provide an outlet and the spark to be the best she can, she said.
That’s why it is so important to support organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of Moncton and programs to help youth achieve their potential, she explained.
“I’ve seen poverty … seen third-world situations in our country,” she said.
Sports programs can change the lives of those youths. Canadians “need to provide outlets for our children, let them be children,” she said.
Despite winning numerous medals in the Olympics, Pan American and Commonwealth Games, as well as world cycling and national championship titles over the years, “I never tried to win” but always aimed to “give the best of me,” she said.
It didn’t matter if it was first or fifth place if it was the best race of her life, she said.
Highlighting one of her proudest moments, she said carrying the Canadian flag into the venue for the Olympics opening ceremonies to the roar of the Canadians in the stands was the most beautiful feeling.
“I felt I had wings,” she said.
That same Canadian pride and spirit that was present throughout the Olympics needs to continue and be nurtured through communities like Metro Moncton and governments by supporting sports and youth programs, she said.
When she replayed her bronze-medal win in Vancouver on the video screens last night, not a sound other than the announcers and crowd roar in the background could be heard.
And when she crossed the finish line, everyone in the room leaped out of their seats and gave a roaring cheer just as they did during the games.
“That’s what can happen when you give a kid a chance,” she said, urging those in attendance to look within the community to keep the movement going by supporting sports, art, music and dance.
