Volume 45 No. 11
August 23, 2016
Beachers celebrate Oleksiak’s triumph By Anna Killen
ALREADY KNOWN to many in the Beach, 16-year-old swimmer Penny Oleksiak is now a household name across Canada. The four-time Olympic medalist captivated the nation at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio this month, becoming Canada’s youngest Olympic champion with a gold medal in the 100-metre freestyle, silver in the 100-metre butterfly, and two bronzes in the women’s freestyle relays (4 x 100 metre and 4 x 200 metre). The first Olympic champion to be born in the aughts, Oleksiak shattered Canadian records – she brings home the most medals ever won by a Canadian at a summer games – and set Olympic records, all the while handling the influx of media attention her newfound status entails with grace and humour. To cap off an incredible 16 days, on Sunday, Oleksiak carried Canada’s flag in the closing ceremonies. She was an early favourite for flag bearer and delayed her departure from Rio once many began speculating that she deserved to lead Canada’s entrance. Oleksiak began swimming when she was nine and broke onto the world stage with a compelling performance at last year’s World Juniors. Now, her coaches and fans believe she could be Canada’s most successful Summer Olympic athlete of all time. “Why can’t Penny be the most medal-winning athlete in the history of Canada?” asked her coach Ben Titley during a media availability in Rio on August 14. Speaking on her future, Oleksiak remained grounded, insisting that her life would not change too much. “I just see it as that I need to love what I do. Right now I really love swimming and it’s something I want to continue doing. As long as I have a love for the sport I’m going to keep progress-
PHOTO: CANADIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
East End swimmer Penny Oleksiak became Canada’s youngest Olympic champion at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.
ing, I hope,” she said. “I just want to be able to keep getting better. Whatever happens, happens.” She said she did not think that life would be much different when she got back to Canada, adding that she was enjoying the notes of congratulations from friends, family and strangers. Beachers celebrated the Monarch Park Collegiate student’s triumphs with enthusiastic viewing parties, excited posts on social media and chats in coffee shops, and talk of a parade to welcome her home. “As Canadians, we’re proud of all of our athletes. But here in the Beaches, it was particularly special for us to cheer for Penny and to watch all of her success,” said Beaches-East York MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who noted that he had left a message for her parents and would be presenting her with an official certificate of congratulations upon her return. Continued on Page 3
PHOTOS: PHIL LAMEIRA
Mother Nature in all her finery A ruby-throated hummingbird, at top, flies through Rosetta McClain gardens on August 20. Above, a monarch butterfly feeds in the Birch Cliff park. Butterfly activity has increased dramatically in recent days at the garden with hundreds of insects flying around. More than 15 different species have been recorded so far this year.