Four of Airdrie’s top athletes were recognized with a permanent spot on the walls of Genesis Place last week.
The inaugural Elite Athlete ceremony was held on June 23, with luger Eric Pothier, arm wrestler Darrell Belyk and gymnasts Corissa Boychuk and Janelle Desmarais-Moen all honoured for their accomplishments in the sports world.
Each received a plaque in the main hallway of the facility, highlighting their careers.
“It’s the best part about my job – recognizing community members who do outstanding things, reach great goals and heights in their life and in their sport,” said Mayor Peter Brown.
“These four individuals have done a great job of representing Airdrie in Airdrie and throughout the world. They’ve been mentors to youth, they work hard in our community and they give back. I’m really prideful that I got to be part of this great evening and that those plaques on the wall will inspire kids to reach the similar goals in their life.”
The primary criteria for the honour, which is tabled through a nomination process, includes having lived or gone to school in Airdrie for at least three years, giving back to the community and obtaining exceptional successes at the national or international levels.
“The accomplishments in my career are overwhelming to me, but to be recognized by the City as one of its elite athletes is over the top for me,” said Belyk, who won the 1999 world arm wrestling title and came second in 2009.
“It’s very gratifying and great to have involvement within your city like that. It inspires others coming up that they can do it too.”
Pothier was the Canadian Doubles Luge Champion from 1999 to 2005, placed fifth at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT and 10th at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy.
“It’s exciting, as it’s not often amateur athletes get noticed,” he said.
“It’s different and it’s nice that the city I’ve lived in, trained in, gone to school in, has taken the time to look at you and recognize what you’ve done. I’ve never had anything quite like that.
“I’ve been retired for a few years now, so it’s cool to think about the sport again and bring back some memories. And it’s nice to be in the first group, as there are so many great athletes here in town.”
Boychuk, who has lived in Airdrie for the past eight years, is the reigning World Champion in double mini-trampoline and also won gold in the World Age Group Championships in 2007.
“I’ve been here for a long time, in Airdrie, and I really appreciate that I’ve been recognized for the accomplishments I’ve made,” she said. “I’m very excited to be honoured, to be up there and hopefully inspire other athletes.
Desmarais-Moen is a national champion in trampoline and tumbling and placed fourth at the 2010 World Age Group Championships.
“I think it’s a great honour to be recognized as one of the elite athletes,” she said.
“To be on this wall where people can walk by and look at it and say ‘look what this person has done.’ Hopefully they’ll be inspired by it. I’m the youngest one, so it’s a little odd and I’ve never had an honour like this before. It’s a pretty neat experience. I’m excited to see who is going to be on there next.”
Brown also pointed out that there are many other world-class athletes in Airdrie and that he hopes this turns into an annual event.
“I think it’s an amazing idea,” Boychuk said.
“This facility is brand new and feels like it’s just beginning. To be one of those people who is first up there – I’m very grateful. I’m so excited that I am on there. It brings awareness to the fact that as an amateur athlete in Airdrie, you can win world championships.”
