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Champs in our eyes
Friday August 1 2008 As the eyes of the world turn toward Beijing, China, the site of the Summer Olympics, local residents can be proud of four athletes who grew up in the area and will represent Canada at the Games.
Swimmer Keith Beavers, rowers Sarah Bonikowsky and Cameron Sylvester and sailor Kevin Stittle are the locals hoping to make waves in Beijing.
For all of the glory that the athletes will receive in the coming weeks, let’s not forget the years of sacrifice, the early morning practices without a fan in sight. They put careers on hold and get by on the little money that is afforded an amateur athlete in this country in order to achieve athletic greatness.
Stittle — who narrowly missed qualifying for the 2000 Olympics — has devoted his life to the sport of sailing; Beavers is putting a master’s degree from the University of Waterloo on hold; and Bonikowsky, a graduate of the University of Victoria, is also making career sacrifices in order to focus on amateur sport.  
As part of the women’s eight rowing team, Bonikowsky has the best shot of the three locals at winning a medal. Stittle and partner Oskar Johansson are ranked sixth in the world and have an outside shot at a medal. Beavers has the toughest task, swimming against a top field that includes American Michael Phelps, arguably the greatest swimmer of all-time.
Medals or not, these athletes have reached the pinnacle of their respective sports. As the Olympic creed reads: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”  
They are champions already, and we wish them well.   

North Peel Media Group Newspapers: The Brampton Guardian Caledon Enterprise Independent & Free Press Orangeville Banner