Students at Carmi Elementary School got a bit of inspiration to start their Friday, as Brent Hayden spoke of his experience as an Olympic bronze medallist.
Hayden, who grew up in Mission, B.C., has been at various spots throughout the area, hitting up schools between Penticton and Summerland, including Summerland Middle, Giant’s Head and Uplands Elementary, as well as the KISU Swim Club.
“It’s been an amazing reception at all the schools that we come to. The kids get super excited, especially when they get to get up and close with an Olympic medal,” Hayden said.
| As the bronze was passed around among various students, including to Max Weaver, pictured here, murmurs about the heavy weight of the medal. Dustin Godfrey/Western News |
“That’s usually the first thing that people say, is they’re just fascinated by the weight of it,” he said, noting there is some symbolism to the weight of the medal.
Hayden, who told students he failed swim class as a kid, said he drew some early inspirations from his own youth when an athlete came into his school.
“I still remember the impact that her speech had on me. She was a blind discus thrower, so hearing about the challenges that she had to overcome to break the world record resonated with me,” he said.
For Carmi principle Dave Ritchie, it was a “wonderful” start to the day, which also included a few performances from students on things like singing and dancing.
“Like they said about the sports hall of fame, it can inspire things that we might not see for years from now, but it might have made a difference and kids can remember from when they were in elementary school things that had an impact on them,” Ritchie said.
Hayden said he is inspired hearing children raise their hands at the end and offering up what they want to be when they grew up, from firefighters to rock stars to doctors.
Children also often spoke up and said when they faced challenges in their own sports, whether it was failing a swim class or placing lower than they wanted in a race or game.
“We practice a lot about making connections when we hear things, and the kids are pretty good at that,” Ritchie said.
“I think we saw today that they did make some of those connections with the speakers that they saw.”