BALDONNEL, B.C. — Last week, an Olympian visited the hallways of Baldonnel Elementary School as part of a mentorship and leadership initiative.
On Friday, April 4th, Canadian bobsledder Melissa Lotholz made an appearance in some classrooms and was the main attraction at a school assembly.
The day concluded with a skating session at the Taylor District Ice Centre during the afternoon.
The athlete, who has competed twice in the Olympics, initially started out as the brakeman for Kaillie Humphries before transitioning into piloting her own sled at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games held in Beijing, China.
She talked to the children about overcoming challenges, highlighting the World Cup medal she secured in Lillehammer, Norway back in February.
[Leah Walkeden] became very ill that week," stated Lotholz. "She chose to relinquish her spot in the race to our team member [Skylar Sieben].
We accomplished this together as a team. As I explained to the children, being part of a team isn’t just about achieving outcomes; it’s also about unselfishly making space for others.
Initially hailing from Barrhead, Alberta, Lotholz made an appearance at the school as part of the Classroom Champions initiative.
Launched in 2009 by U.S. bobsledder Steve Mesler and his sibling Dr. Leigh Parise, this program unites athletes with students aiming to boost social and emotional development along with academic achievement.
Baldonnel teacher Elaine McEachern submitted a request to join the Classroom Champions initiative after noticing an announcement on the School District 60's website.
They mentioned some discussion around other educators in the district taking this approach," McEachern stated. "Although I had social and emotional learning programs in place, I was looking for an alternative method.
I came across it and it seemed quite promising. That's why I decided to sign up.
Lotholz had been coaching McEachern’s classes remotely, and the educator characterizes the kids meeting the bobsledder as a "moment of heroism."
All throughout the year, we’ve conducted sessions on setting goals and persevering during tough times," explained McEachern, who also mentioned that the kids had participated in fundraising activities for both the BC SPCA and Fort St. John Hospital’s Peace Villa.
[Lotholz] spoke with the children about the significance of perseverance through difficulties and how individuals from tiny communities can excel as world-class athletes.
During the speaking event, students crafted their own DIY bobsleds and took part in a competition within the school gym.
lotholz mentioned that the students excelled with their bobsled creations, and when queried, indicated that "one can never tell" whether she might incorporate some of these ideas as she gets ready for the 2026 Winter Olympics in milan, italy.
From the start, Classroom Champions has awarded over $10 million in scholarships to various communities, as stated by the organization. LinkedIn profile .
Additional information about Classroom Champions can be obtained from the program’s website. website .
Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca