By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The Paris Olympics begin in just a couple of weeks but – for all those local folks who knew and supported Kate Current of Precious Corners as she grew up and showed signs of the stunning athletic ability that has taken her there – the time to watch will be August 6.
At 10:05 Paris time, her proud mother noted, 4 a.m. local time.
Grant and Jennifer Current will be watching in person, along with Kate’s older sister Emily. They have been there for the whole ride, from competitive gymnastics in her days at C.R. Gummow Public School to more recently when Athletics Canada nominated her to the Canadian Olympic Committee, which submitted that nomination to the IOC – “and here we are. Our heads are spinning,” Jennifer Current declared happily.
Now 26, the Cobourg-born Olympian really discovered her passion when she entered Cobourg Collegiate Institute. That’s where she had the chance to run as part of the school’s cross-country and track teams (go, Wolves!). It was also a golden opportunity to work with track and cross-country coach Dawn Watson, who had distinguished herself in modern pentathlon competition.
Not content with limiting herself to high-school athletics, Kate discovered the Speed Academy in Pickering where she could also train with its founder, Olympic sprinter Tony Sharpe. She would report to that facility two to three times each week during her CCI years, starting about Grade 10.
Then it was on to Western University where – along with her undergraduate degree in civil engineering and her graduate degree in civil engineering, specializing in wind engineering – she distinguished herself competitively.
“She broke a few records, she was Female Athlete of the Year a couple times and, in her last year, she won the Athletic All Canadian Governor General’s Award – I think eight students across Canada are awarded each year,” her mother recalled.
On that occasion, both parents travelled to Ottawa to see the ceremony.
They have also been along for competitions whenever possible, right up to last year’s World Track and Field Championships in Budapest (along with Emily and Jennifer’s mother).
“We have been on quite a ride,” she said.
On August 6, the entourage will include 13 Cobourg-area supporters – Emily, Grant and Jennifer Current, Jennifer’s mother, three of Kate’s aunts, one of her uncles, four of her cousins and a cousin-in-law.
Rounding out the party will be her high school and university coaches.
And that doesn’t count the larger community of friends and supporters who will be cheering her on from back home.
“We are so proud of her. She’s worked really hard, and for everything to come together after years of hard work and determination, it’s really incredible to watch her achieve her goals,” Jennifer said.
“She’s a competitive young woman, drive and determined, and she will work hard for the best times, and she doesn’t give up.
“It doesn’t always go your way in a race, but she bounces back and she works hard.”
Right now, Kate is in Switzerland at an Athletics Canada altitude training camp, a routine step in training for many Canadian athletes before being returned to lower altitudes. After a couple of weeks, she will be in Spain at a holding camp until it’s time to report to Paris.
