I2

Ryan Ross
miramichi leader

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MIRAMICHI - When Nova Scotian snowboarder Alex Duckworth competed in her first national competition she did the best she could to finish first the first day.

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Ryan Ross/miramichi leader

Croft Elementary School students reach for the Olympic torch during a visit to the school Tuesday afternoon.

She finished dead last.

Determined to do better she went back out the next day, started her run, crashed into the first gate and knocked herself out of the competition.

"I was so embarrassed."

Duckworth is an RBC Olympian and told the story to the Croft Elementary School students gathered in the school's gym Tuesday afternoon.

She was in the city as part of the build-up to the torch relay coming to the Miramichi next Friday.

After she told the story about her disastrous finish, Duckworth said a lot of people give up after failures like hers, but she didn't want to give up her dream.

She went back, set goals for herself and trained hard to try and achieve her goal of winning at the national championship, which she eventually did.

"It took me four years to achieve my goal."

Every little face looked up at her as the students sat on the gym floor and listened as she talked about her sport and the challenges involved in getting to the Olympics.

Duckworth won't know if she made the Olympic team until a few weeks before the games start because she still has to qualify for the national team.

She had a setback six weeks ago when she broke her ankle, but she told the students it wasn't going to stop her from trying.

"I have to stay positive right now and I'm very focused on getting my ankle better and I should be back to snowboarding in about a month or so."

There was a mix of quiet awe and frenzied excitement during Duckworth's visit as she showed a promotional video for the Olympic Games, followed by one that showed off her sport.

Oohs and awes greeted every jump, back-flip or rail slide as the kids watched snowboarders do their thing in different parts of the world to a collective shout of "cool" from the students.

The students were also impressed by Duckworth's personal accomplishments as she told them she won 30 or 40 medals throughout her career so far, including gold at the Canada Games.

"Wow," they said.

Duckworth took time to answer questions from the crowd, including one boy who asked her if she likes snowboarding, which she said she does.

"I think it's good to do what you enjoy doing."

Along with the video Duckworth showed off a slightly battered Olympic torch and as she posed for pictures with the students, they scrambled to touch it before they headed back to class.

Croft principal Mark Donovan said having Duckworth speak at the school was a great opportunity for the kids to get excited about the upcoming torch relay.

"It's a great way to promote sport and physical activity, healthy lifestyles."

The entire school will take part in the upcoming torch relay, with the kindergarten and Grade 1, 2 and 3 students walking down to Pleasant Street to watch that leg of the relay, while the rest of the students will bus over to James M. Hill for the city's celebration.

Donovan said the school was lucky to have Duckworth visit and the message she had for the students was a good one, he said.

"Set your goals and don't give up."