Global News cameraman Trevor Owens will be giving a behind-the-scenes look at covering the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro throughout the Games.
Fresh from her silver medal win last week, Toronto swimming star Penny Oleksiak arrived to greet reporters at the press centre in Rio with her prized possessions hanging around her neck.
WATCH: Reasons behind Canadian women’s dominance
Sixteen-year-old Oleksiak said she treasures her medals, adding she sleeps with them and takes extra care when transporting them to make sure they don’t get damaged.
(Little did she know she’d go on to win a gold medal in the 100-metre freestyle later in the week).
READ MORE: Penny Oleksiak may stay for fun and flagbearing with swimming done
After a handful of questions, she was kind enough to come out from behind the stage to show off her new hardware. Oleksiak held her medals ever so carefully to prevent them from clinking together and she even laughed at herself for protecting them so much.
Her patience with media is impressive. She has been thrust into the spotlight by her athleticism at the Summer Games, yet seems comfortable with the extra attention. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to go from a “normal” life to suddenly exploding onto the world stage and everyone knowing your name.
“It doesn’t seem unusual at all,” said Oleksiak when asked that very question.
“I don’t think anything will change when I get home. I’m looking forward to hanging out with my friends.”
After she finished showing off her medals and the cameras left, I popped my head out from behind the lens to say hello. I had met her and her family a month earlier in Toronto and wanted to see if she remembered me.
READ MORE: Penny Oleksiak, Olympic gold medalist and Drake loving teenager
I was pleased when she seemed delighted to see me again. We chatted for a moment, but it gave me the chance to congratulate her on her amazing accomplishments before she was whisked away to her next appearance. Before she left, she mentioned that her parents would be at Canada House later that night.
Arriving at Canada House, I waited patiently for her family to walk through the doors and when they did, I was admittedly in awe. They are an incredibly talented family. Oleksiak’s brother, Jamie, is an NHL defenceman with the Dallas Stars and her older sister Hailey rows for Northeastern University. Penny and Jamie both joke about what it can be like around the dinner table when they all come together.
“We can get pretty competitive” Jamie said. “But it’s all in good fun.”
He joked that he has become known as “Penny’s brother.”
“It’s just been fantastic. I’ve been a super fan this whole time and like I said we’ve just been so proud of her and she’s handled herself so well.”
Comments