Kathryn Durant has been nominated as our community torchbearer to light the celebration cauldron for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay when the Olympic Flame arrives in Swift Current in just seven weeks time.
Kathryn has captured silver medals in both the 2003 and 2007 Special Olympic Canada games in figure skating. She has also represented Saskatchewan at the Special Olympic National Winter Games in 2004 and 2008 where she won bronze and gold medals and in 2007 Kathryn was awarded with Special Olympic Female Athlete of the year.
Kathryn has a dream of representing Canada at the World Special Olympic games in 2013 as a Level 5 figure skater and pairs dancer.
Kathryn cross-trains in swimming and keeps up a vigorous gym program to help keep her physically fit. She uses the many skills she has learned from sport to help her in her daily life.
In a recent talk that Kathryn gave on how to win in sport and life she said, “Always be on time, set goals, work hard every practice, improve your skills every practice, do it right every time so if you forget you still do it right, work hard even when you don’t feel like it, always do your best at competition and always try to have a good attitude”.
Kathryn is a very special athlete who embodies the spirit and commitment of the Olympic Games. Overcoming her own personal obstacles she has achieved success through her participation in Special Olympics.
“We’re pleased to announce Kathryn Durant as Swift Current’s official torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games,” said Mayor Jerrod Schafer. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Kathryn, who is one of 12,000 Canadians chosen to carry the Olympic Flame on the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history! On January 10th, we want everyone in our community to join together with other Canadians and show the world how inspired we feel by the Olympic Flame and its message of peace, brotherhood and friendship.”
To celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Flame a number of events have been planned starting on November 25 at Irwin School where Kelsie Hendry, a three time national pole vaulting champion and current Canadian record holder, will share her story. Kelsie was a member of the 2008 Olympic team in Beijing, China and she is continuing her training with the hopes of becoming an Olympic finalist in 2012.
On November 26, Kathryn and other Saskatchewan torchbearers will be honored at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building by Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Dustin Duncan in celebration of torchbearer cauldron lighters, the Torch Run and the Saskatchewan’s spirit.
Later that evening in Swift Current, Mayor Schafer will officially raise the Olympic Torch Relay Flag at the annual tree lighting ceremony at the Bank of Montreal Courtyard.
These events are going to launch the countdown to the January 10 event where Kathryn will carry the Olympic Torch on its final 300 metres to the stage where she will light the 1.3-metre high celebration cauldron.
