After meeting Olympic gold medallist, Rachelle looks forward to competing in this year’s Special Olympics

The Sault’s Rachelle Barbeau, one of 12 locals who will be competing in the 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Winter Games, to be held in Sault Ste. Marie Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, is looking forward to reconnecting at the upcoming Games with Special Olympics athletes from different communities she has met over the years at other competitions.

“I’ve been cross country skiing since I was nine,” said Rachelle, 30, speaking to SooToday.

“I like the Red Pine Trail here at Hiawatha and getting ready for the Winter Games. With cross country skiing, I get to ski with others and meet new friends,” Rachelle said.

“We wanted a winter activity in which the entire family could participate,” said Margaret, her mother/coach.

“They (Rachelle and her brother) learned to ski in the Soo Finnish Nordic jack rabbit program at Hiawatha Highlands. It’s a wonderful, inclusive ski community,” Margaret said.

Rachelle loves to ski and socialize, greeting all skiers at Hiawatha, no matter their age or skiing ability.

A fond memory of Rachelle’s is the occasion when Canadian Olympic Gold medal-winning cross country skier Beckie Scott met and chatted to her, Scott signing her skis.

A volunteer at Algoma Public Health (APH), Rachelle has also participated in swimming, track and field, volleyball, basketball and badminton, and, in the non-athletic realm, has tried her hand at piano.

No stranger to competition, Rachelle is looking forward to competing in the Winter Games locally, with her mother/coach Margaret and the rest of her family and friends cheering her on.

“I’ve been training and skiing hard,” Rachelle said with anticipation.

The 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Winter Games will consist of Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing, figure skating, speed skating, curling and snowshoeing, to be held at the John Rhodes Community Centre, GFL Memorial Gardens, Community First Curling Centre, Searchmont Ski Resort and Hiawatha.

For more information, check out the Games website