[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1521502156683{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]I sit at my desk here in Ottawa and reflect on the recent adventures of BSG’s favourite cross country skier, Katherine Stewart-Jones; I picture her traveling from the National Team Development Centre in Thunder Bay to Switzerland, Norway and Germany to compete against the best in the world.
It’s hard not to also think about how this season Katherine has faced adversity and truly shown us what she is made of.
A Challenging Start
When we first met Katherine in September, 2017, she had just experienced a concussion while riding her bike and was facing the prospect of taking several weeks off training, a daunting concept in an Olympic year where it was more critical than ever to train hard. We knew that Katherine, a member of Canada’s Senior National Cross Country ski team, had a dream and a real shot at representing Canada at the PyeongChang Olympic Games, so this injury was quite a blow. Her own words are much more powerful than mine and I encourage you to read her blog about her concussion recovery and narrowly missing making the Olympic team. Her words show what a positive and resilient person she is and she certainly makes us proud here at BSG.
To Moving On
The part of the story that had not yet unfolded in these blogs was her great success following the disappointment. Katherine when on to compete in the U23 World Championships in Switzerland followed by Swiss Cup racing where she finished at the top of the podium in two races. After that were races in Germany with highs and lows… and some pretty amazing determination. Finally, at the Canadian Ski Nationals event in Thunder Bay, Katherine did it again! She took home three medals, won the aggregate National Championship in both Senior and U23 categories and led local team, Nakkertok, to its 9th consecutive club National Championship. What a great way to end a challenging season!
Her journey is certainly a reflection of the beauty of youth, the importance of sport and the power of resilience and determination. Go Katherine Go!
About Katherine Stewart-Jones
You can learn more about Katherine through her website and don’t forget to check out her instagram![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
