Whitby’s five Olympic Athletes were recognized by the town last Wednesday night (Nov. 30) at a ceremony held at the municipal building.
Approximately 150 people were on hand to hear politicians and their representatives from all four levels of government bestow accolades on the five. – Lori Melien, Lori Strong, Terry Paul, Glenn Beachamp, and Christina MacDonald.
Fighting back tears, Melien 16, who won a bronze medal at the Games, told the children in the audience, “You can reach your dreams
if you want to.”
After the ceremony, she recalled standing on the podium with her bronze medal as the Canadian flag was raised, as a memory she will never forget. Melien won the medal as the backstroker for the 4 X 100 m. medley relay team.
“I was just happy I qualified for the team” said the Gr. 11 student at Anderson C.V.I. The team went into their finals with the fifth best time. She said a team effort won the medal with each of the four members swimming within half a second of their best times.
As for the citizens of Korea, Melien said they were constantly stopping athletes in the streets for pictures.
“I met one U.S. girl there, and we are still writing letters to each other.”
Melien says her thoughts are now focused on competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics, to be held in Barcelona, Spain. But she admits a lot of things could happen between now and then to make her change her mind.
