Olympian Malindi Elmore and Paralympian Robert Shaw were recognized for their achievements at Kelowna City Council on Oct. 7.
Both athletes competed at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. Elmore finished 35th in the women91裸聊视频檚 marathon on a gruelling course during high temperatures.
91裸聊视频淚f anyone happened to catch it you91裸聊视频檒l see some athletes made it look easy, but it was definitely one of the most difficult races I91裸聊视频檝e ever run,91裸聊视频� Elmore said.
She added when things got tough during the race she would think about the support that got her to Paris.
91裸聊视频淚 was running on those good vibes as much as I could. It wasn91裸聊视频檛 the same performance I had in Japan (2020 Tokyo Games) unfortunately, but it was definitely the same effort.91裸聊视频�
She said she is lucky to have grown up in Kelowna with many sporting opportunities through the school system, adding she will continue to give back.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 concerned that some children aren91裸聊视频檛 getting the opportunities to be active and that there are a lot of barriers to sport now. When it91裸聊视频檚 a matter of rent and groceries or putting your kids in sports you know what91裸聊视频檚 going to get cut.91裸聊视频�
Elmore is involved with many community organizations as well as KidSport Canada.
Competing in the 2028 Los Angeles is a possibility she added, but she91裸聊视频檚 also passionate about coaching.
91裸聊视频淚f I can help build the sport that way I91裸聊视频檓 also happy to pass it along.91裸聊视频�
Robert Shaw competed in wheelchair tennis at the Paralympic Games in Paris, losing in the quarter-final round to world number two player Niels Vink of the Netherlands. Shaw, who also participated in Tokyo in 2020, is currently ranked 7th in the world.
He said there was a marked difference between the Tokyo games, during the COVID lockdown, and his experience in Paris.
91裸聊视频淚 was wanting to play in front of people, have my family there, mingle with other athletes from different countries, learned about their struggles and how they overcome things in their lives.91裸聊视频�
Shaw grew up in Northern Ontario but moved to Kelowna nearly four years ago to complete a PhD in Kinesiology, and plans to stay.
91裸聊视频淢ainly because it91裸聊视频檚 a stable city for me,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲here I live and the people around me are extremely supportive.91裸聊视频�
Shaw said he will not be competing at the next Paralympic Games.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檒l definitely play for the next year. There are goals I still want to accomplish on the ITF Tour (International Tennis Federation) that I haven91裸聊视频檛 been able to do yet.91裸聊视频�
He added he looks forward to applying his knowledge and skills learned through schooling to more use.
Shaw and Elmore were presented with watercolours by local artist Irina Bakumenko of their home training grounds. Shaw91裸聊视频檚 is at the Okanagan Mission Tennis Club, and Elmore91裸聊视频檚 is at the Apple Bowl.
The two athletes, along with Olympic gold medal sprinter Jerome Blake who was recognized at council91裸聊视频檚 Sept. 23 meeting, will be honoured at Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 50th Annual Civic Awards in April 2025.