By With files from Jayne Erickson
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 is a day that St. Thomas student Kelsey Knowles will never forget. That was the day she carried the Olympic torch. Even though it was only 300 meters through Riverside Albert, a tiny village near Alma, New Brunswick, it cemented her place in Canadian sports history. She joined Canadian country music star Shania Twain, Canadian hockey hero Sidney Crosby and more than 12,000 other Canadians that are aiding the torch in it’s 106 day journey from one end of the country to the other and back again.
“With Glowing Hearts” was the theme of the relay and those who were nearby Knowles could see that her heart was ablaze as she ran her portion. An emotional Knowles had her torch lit with the very same flame that originated in Athens, Greece, as per the Olympic custom. She took off on a slow jog for 300 meters, which, she said, was much tougher than one might think.
Kelsey passes on the flame to the next torch bearerthink.
Battling the welling emotion was not the only struggle for her as she ran through the misty morning.
“My two goals were to avoid crying, and not to light myself on fire,” said Knowles. “I accomplished one, though. Of course I cried. Also, it was surprisingly difficult; the torch is not light!”
Family, loved ones, close friends, and more than 60 students from the nation’s oldest elementary school, Riverside Consolidated School, were there to greet Knowles and her fellow torchbearers. She stood dressed in her torchbearers uniform, a clean white tracksuit embroidered with the Vancouver 2010 logo. She proudly held her torch high as the students broke out into the national anthem.
“It was probably one of the top 3 of things I’ve ever done in my life and I’ll never forget it,” said Knowles.
Knowles proudly holds up the torch after her 300 meter run
But Knowles wasn’t handed the torch by accident. She was selected because over the past few years, she has been a strong advocate for active living in her community of Bathurst, New Brunswick. For the last four years, she has organized and coached her own sports camp for youth, coached elementary school track and field, and been an active participant in the sports community, most notably with the St. Thomas Women’s Volleyball team.
For all of her sports experience, carrying the torch was still an honor for her and she was proud to carry it for those 300 meters.
“Carrying the torch was amazing. Definitely something I will remember forever.”
For more torch coverage, check out the STU Basement tapes coverage by Matt Sheriko, here, and Jason Cassidy, here.
