Olympian at school

By Jonathon Brodie/London Community News / Twitter: @jonathonbrodie Holding an opening ceremony for respect and hard work, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Elementary School welcomed Olympic silver medalist Darcy Marquardt to speak to its 350 students. It was just over a month ago when the 33-year-old rowed with the women’s eight team to earn her first Olympic hardware on her third time at the Summer Games. The enthusiasm from young Canadians hasn’t gone down. The final 500 metres of the race was shown to the students and the kids clapped as if it were happening for the first time. When the video was shown again just before Marquardt left, they were just as loud. Grade 7 student Tanya sang the Olympic anthem ‘I Believe’ to the silver medalist who began to tear up. “The song has a special meaning. It helped bring me back to the Olympic Games,” Marquardt said, who gained some Olympic fever of her own after the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver when she decided to go for one last try at a medal after originally deciding to retire from the sport. Two boys also put the Olympic silver medal around Marquardt’s neck when she first arrived, but sticking with the theme of the school’s ceremony the rower didn’t wear it for long. “The reason I take it off is not because I’m not proud of it, but because we all get to wear it on the podium at the Olympic Games, but as soon as we’re off the podium we take it off,” Marquardt said. “It’s out of respect for our competitors.” [gallery link="file"] Find us on Facebook: London Community News