Her worst mark in Grade 6 came in physical education.
But for two-time Olympian Mellisa Hollingsworth, it became the first obstacle and motivational tool she used during her decorated career at skeleton. It’s also part of the story she shared with the elementary students as part of the Passion For Excellence speaking tour at R.J. Hawkey School in Airdrie, April 13.
Hollingsworth, a 2006 bronze medallist from the Turin Winter Olympics, told the gathered crowd about the highlights and lowlights of her storied career, including being left off the 2002 Olympic team and almost quitting the sport, to the immense disappointment she carried following her fifth-place finish at the Vancouver Olympics.
“There’s so many different stories I have from my career, but the ones the kids can relate to – when I was in Grade 6, my worst mark on my report card was phys-ed,” said the 31-year-old two-time World Cup champion. “A lot of kids ask ‘how is that possible?’ It all comes down to hard work, dreaming big and participating. I think that’s one of the things I really want them to hear today. Don’t be afraid to go out and participate in a sport, music; it doesn’t matter what it is. Just to do it to build your confidence.”
“I’m so pleased for our students to have the opportunity to hear a world-class athlete share her passion,” said R.J. Hawkey principal Dan Hoch. “She’s setting an example for these students that this is a possible dream; she did it, she lives in Airdrie and we can do this to.”
Hollingsworth became involved the Passion for Excellence program, which will make 13 stops in the Calgary area during the next two months, after she met Tony Dilawri, the tour’s title sponsor, at a charity event last year.
She’ll be involved with six of the 12 school stops and will have one co-presentation, with bobsleigh athlete Helen Upperton, for adults dealing with traumatic injuries at the Universal Rehabilitation Service Agency in Calgary.
“After the Olympics last year, I was inundated with requested from all over – schools, community programs, corporations – to come and share my story. It’s one of adversity, facing fears and how you react in certain situations,” Hollingsworth said.
“Everybody wins in a sense, as we’re promoting healthy lifestyles along with our stories of ups and downs. Hopefully, we’ll get a positive response and have more schools next year to continue on this program.”
During her half-hour speech, Hollingsworth told students how she once sold her horse to buy a car to transport herself and her sled back and forth to Calgary to train, as well as her elementary and high school experiences and what types of decisions she has made in her life.
“I think that I’ve got a lot of things in my story that can definitely keep them on track with their plans,” she said. “And I remember when people that I looked up to came and spoke to me when I was their age.”
Six students at R.J. Hawkey submitted a group project asking Hollingsworth to speak at their school, which Hoch said is part of the school’s inaugural year of the Learning in Engaging Networked Settings program – where all of the Grade 2, 3 and 4 students are grouped into four interest areas: sports and athletics, scientific inquiry and innovation, humanitarian and environment, and visual performing arts.
“This is a very deliberate move on our part to have Mellisa come in and speak to those kids, because they have that specific interest,” he said. “They were highly engaged and motivated.”
