Bienvenue Bonsoir, Commodore Morse, Colonel Lacroix, Elèves Officiers et invités.  Premièrement, j’aimerais vous remercier de m’avoir invitée à votre Banquet des sports Varsity.   

It was 11 years ago that I was sitting where you are now, hoping that I would be named to receive an award but also just happy to be amongst such a motivated and fit group of students.  I didn’t receive an award that night, in fact, in all four years I only won one award at the annual Athletic Awards night.  That award, the Kelly Gawne Memorial Award, is still the only one that is on display at my house.  My Pan American Gold Medal is stuffed in amongst my sweaters, the many plaques and trophies I have won including the CF Female Athlete of the year are in boxes in the attic.  But it is the Kelly Gawne trophy that holds a special meaning to me.  At the Athletic Banquet in my third year, I was again waiting and hoping to receive an award.  When the presentation of awards came to an end, I was getting ready to congratulate my buds that had won their awards when the Commandant announced that a new award had been introduced and that it was to be awarded to the overall female cadet at the college.  It was new because it was in memory of Officer Cadet Kelly Gawne who had been tragically killed in a training accident in Chilliwack, B.C. the previous year.   

Well, I was called to the stage as the first recipient of the trophy.  I could hardly see the stage because I was in tears.  Kelly had been a roommate of mine and we had spent a lot of time together during the summer of second language training.  I had been devastated by her death and to be awarded a trophy in her name was the greatest honour I could ever receive.  That is why her trophy remains on display in my house.  I need no other to motivate me or to show my accomplishments.  Often, when I think I am having a bad day training or I start to complain, I look at that trophy and remember her incredible positive attitude and what she would have told me.  It picks me up right away, it reminds me that the awards, accolades and successes are meaningless without the experiences and people that make it all happen.   So you can understand why it is such a great honour to be able to return to present that award, thank you for giving me this opportunity. 

I must tell you about my Olympic experience.  I actually watched the television coverage of the Olympic women’s race for the first time only two weeks ago.  I did not want to watch it for so long because I wanted to preserve my own memories and keep the experience as positive as I could.  I didn’t want to see a broadcaster’s rendition of the event until I had fully accepted my accomplishment.  And I am glad that I waited!  I received reports from so many friends and supporters, including many RMC cadets, who did not know what had happened in the race, because of the poor television coverage.  Well, I am here to tell you what happened.   

Sept 16, 2000 – RACE DAY

The atmosphere was electric and the number of spectators already lining the route 2 hours prior to race start was huge!  I walked to the race area with Dave and I waved to my family in the stands as I prepared in the transition area.  I had not drawn a good start position; I was on the far side of the pontoon, but that was okay I could deal with it.  I remember them calling my name and I walked in front of the crowds thinking, “There is no place I would rather be right now.”   

My swim was not very good as I spent the majority of the time fighting to get to the center where the better swimmers were and my coughing sometimes coincided with a big wave pounding into me!  But I didn’t panic and came out about 30 sec behind the first pack.  I knew if my pack could work together, we could catch them.

But as many of you know, we didn’t get that chance – there was a major crash only 10km into the cycle portion.  I was traveling over 40km/hr when the two girls directly in front of me touched wheels and went down.  I braked so hard that I put a hole through my tire!  I had no room to maneuver around them so I knew I was going down!  I remember thinking “No, not today!”  I piled into the barrier and then onto the pavement.  I bounced right back up, but I had broken my rear wheel on the barrier.  My adrenalin was rushing and all I could think of was getting back into the race.  I started to run with my bike to the next wheel stop (it is a looped course, 6x6.6km and there are 6 places to change wheels on the course.  Also, if the front group of competitors laps you, then you are pulled off the course and unable to finish!) A race official was there and offered to take my wheel and cross the park to the other side where the wheel change was.  So I waited what seemed an eternity for a spare – other competitors racing by, the girl who crashed in front of me was still crying and moaning in pain (she had broken her collarbone), a Japanese competitor in a daze with blood on her face struggling to get her bike back in order and spectators trying to comfort us.  All I kept saying was, “I gotta finish, I must finish…” I also thought of my friends, and all of Canada watching TV at home.  I also knew that most of you would be somewhere en mass, watching my race - I just couldn’t quit – not with everyone cheering for me.  In a sense, you were all part of my team, Team Canada, Team RMC; I couldn’t let my teammates down.  Just like the famous Tanzanian marathoner in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, who finished bloodied and bruised over an hour after everyone else, and most of the spectators had left.  He said he couldn’t quit.  His country had not sent him there to start the race, but to finish the race.  I was that Tanzanian!   

I was getting more concerned as each minute passed that I would not get the chance to finish and cross the finish line, something I had worked so long and hard to do.  Finally after about 6 min, the mechanic came running with spare wheels and got me on my way.  It then became a time trial with the front group and myself.  “Don’t let them catch me.”  I was all bloodied and my back and elbow were hurting quite badly but I didn’t notice it as much as the task at hand.  The front group wasn’t far back, but I managed to hold them off for the duration of the bike and even got faster than them in the last lap!   It was very tough to come into transition as one of the last bikes and in front of such a huge crowd, with so many Canadian supporters.  I was in tears.  The run was so tough, more mentally than physically.  My body was in rough shape and my neck was killing me, but for 10km, thoughts of my ruined Olympic dreams rushed through my mind.  There are no words to describe what I was going through.  But I knew that at least I could finish, 11 other women had crashed and only two of us were able to finish.  I crossed the finish line in 38^th position.  I was in tears, but I also had a smile on my face – I had come to terms with myself during the race and I had to finish with my head up and be proud.  

I have gone over the race in my head nearly every day since then, and there are always the ‘what ifs’ (what if I didn’t get sick, what if I had a better start position, what if I wasn’t in that spot at the time of the crash…).  The reason why Olympics are so special is that you must have everything go perfect on one day.  The opportunity to get that perfect day comes only once every four years and you only get one, or maybe two shots at it.  Simon Whitfield had one of those days, and it was thrilling to be in the stands to watch it. 

The morning following my race, I received so many emails I could hardly read them all!  .  The outpouring of kind words from friends, children I had never met, parents all saying that they were proud of my performance and courage, and that I was a great role model for children.  I nearly short-circuited my computer from all the tears falling on the keyboard!

One email was from IV year Sarah Baillie, She wrote:

Sharon,

I just wanted to let you know that you had a crowd of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th years crowded into the RMC cadet mess last Friday to watch your race.  We were all very proud of the way you competed.  You showed us what courage was all about and you proved to us that you can do anything you put your mind to.    Thank you for representing the college, and the country so honourably.  You are an incredible role model for all RMC cadets and athletes.  I hope to see you around the school or the pool when you get back. 

All the best, 

OCdt Sarah Bailie
(Fourth year) 

Her email, like so many others are what really helped me to get me back on my feet and allow me to enjoy the remainder of the Games.  Thank you, for being part of my team, and helping me through! 

So that was the story of my race!  But what does it have to do with you all here?  It has everything to do with you!  I gained my confidence and my toughness here at RMC.  I was very shy and introverted before I came to RMC and this place provided the opportunities to come out of my shell, try new skills and activities, and become part of a team.  I sincerely think that two of the toughest things I have done, that I look back upon to give me strength are: the Recruit Obstacle course and College life as a whole.  The obstacles are so daunting and seem so impossible but with the support of the flight and cheering of the squadron, we could accomplish them – something we could not have done individually.   College life with all of its demands: academics, military, sports or second language training taught me to properly prioritize and plan as well as to act and think in pressure situations, under time constraints.  Such was my Olympic race and I drew upon my RMC experiences.   Which leads me to my next important proponent of my success - Teamwork 

[Travailler comme une équipe] :

A première vue, beaucoup de personnes croient que le “triathlon” n’est pas un sport d’équipe, détrompez-vous, ceci est faux.  Je compte sur une grande équipe de spécialistes considérés comme une grande famille soit : les commanditaires, les médecins, les entraîneurs et les amis.  Je ne pourrais jamais atteindre aucun succès sans mon équipe.  Encore plus important, je reconnais leurs contributions et je les remercie beaucoup.  C’est la même chose que faire l’éloge de vos compagnons ou de votre section pour l’ouvrage bien exécuté. L’encouragement continuel rend votre section enthousiaste et motivée, de plus votre section travaillera davantage.  Négliger votre équipe ou votre section est peut-être la chose la plus nuisible lorsqu’on cherche à atteindre un rendement maximum.  Les élèves officiers du CMR apprennent  “le travail d’équipe” et les responsabilités qui en découlent.  Vous allez certainement vous en servir pour le reste de votre carrière, je peux vous l’affirmer.  J’ai vu beaucoup d’athlètes qui n’avaient aucune gratitude pour leur équipe ou pour l’aide qu’ils ont reçue durant les compétitions. Éventuellement, ce genre d’athlète est évité par les membres d’une équipe, donc lorsque ces athlètes auront besoin d’aide il n’y aura plus personne pour les aider.  I know that I could not have finished my Olympic race without the support of my team.  Visions of family, friends, cadets and Canadians who were counting on me and had helped me over the years, are what drove me to finish, I couldn’t do it on my own.  So never under-estimate the power of teamwork, you can accomplish anything. 

Finally, my success as a triathlete started at RMC because basically, I was first introduced to the sport here at the College.  One of the great things about the College is that every cadet must participate in sports, be it intramural or varsity.  I embraced the opportunity to try new activities in both Varsity and Intramural/Club and I had a lot of fun and learned an incredible amount.  Participation, effort and learning were emphasized – at another university, I would never have been allowed on the x-country running team – but at RMC, I was a valuable member even though in first and second year I was the slowest member on the team – I am telling the truth – I would get lost in the warm-ups!  But with patience and effort I slowly began to improve and I found a love for running.  I know anywhere else, I would have been discouraged and possibly not continued with it.  I joined other clubs and sports such as Triathlon and water-polo, I wanted to experience as much as I could.  Participation in such a wide variety of activities like Varsity sports as well as club and intramural activities prepared me for my years as a junior officer at my army units where I was often put in charge of unit fitness or sports activities.  Most of you here will be given those same tasks and I am telling you that your experiences and preparation here at RMC will benefit you greatly at your units.  Some of my most rewarding experiences come from my years as coach of my 2 Svc Bn biathlon team where we had all started off never having skied before as well as starting up and coaching the Petawawa Base Running Club.  It gave me great pleasure to learn that the club remained and grew after I had moved on.  RMC gave me the foundation of leadership required to be a good coach, and athlete I know it will be for you also. 

I will conclude with a message which I have given in the past and some of you may have heard this already – but with my experiences at Olympics and considering my decision to continue to compete towards the next Olympic Games – it carries even more meaning!  That message is: 

PASSION

Whatever you do - do it with PASSION.  I am here tonight because I am passionate about my sport and about my college. RMC is a great college and offers so much - it is there for you.  You should make the most of your time here.  It goes by so quickly!  Mettez beaucoup de passion dans vos cours, vos sports et dans votre entraînement militaire, ceux-ci sont indispensables dans votre carrière et ils vous prépareront pour de futurs grands défis.  Peu importe si vous êtes membre de 10 équipes et clubs dans votre carrière au Collège ou si vous faites partie d’une seule équipe, faites-le avec passion.  Vous n’avez pas besoin de gagner, vous n’avez pas besoin de la note la plus haute – mais si vous participez, faites le avec passion, vous serez couronné de succès. 

Merci beaucoup encore un fois de m’avoir invitée à vous parler ce soir.  I will now finish off by showing you an inspiring musical show of the 2000 Summer Olympics.  You will see so many different emotions and reactions – but all of it representing dreams and the drive to realize those dreams.  It shows the true Olympic Experience, I hope you enjoy it.