CALGARY – More than 150 future Olympians began their first day of classes at the new National Sport School in Calgary.
Until recently, the school had been operated out of Earnest Manning High School in Westbrook; a new five-storey office tower at Canada Olympic Park opened for students last week.
Laura Glover, a member of the National Women’s Junior Luge team, is one of the students attending the school.
She says she’s grateful for the specialized education because it gives her the chance to attend school while enjoying the sport she loves.
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“If it wasn’t for a facility like the National Sport School that I wouldn’t get the opportunity to graduate or I’d end up having to drop my sport.”
The student’s curriculum is largely self-directed. Many spend their mornings and evenings training while studying during the afternoon.
Olympic gold medalist Kyle Shewfelt is a National Sports School graduate who credits the program for some of his success on the podium.
“It was a place that really valued what I was doing and provided a lot of flexibility and accommodation so that sport could come first and as an athlete, sport has to come first in order for you to reach that level of excellence.”
The students at the school train in 23 different Olympic sports.
In operation since 1994, it hopes to expand the program and increase the number of students attending thanks to its new, larger facility.
Graduates of the National Sports School have won more than a dozen Olympic medals including nine gold.
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