There was Olympic fever at the Ottawa airport this morning as two local heroes were welcomed home from the Rio games.
Stittsville's Erica Wiebe won gold in women's wrestling and Gatineau’s Natasha Watcham-Roy helped the women’s Rugby Sevens win bronze.
It was a sea of red and white at the airport as a crowd of well-wishers welcomed back our Olympic champions and a number of other athletes who may not have won medals but won a place in our hearts.
Led by bagpipes, an overwhelmed Erica Wiebe wound her way down the escalator at the airport and into the arms of her very proud and very excited parents.
“I was more nervous walking out here than I was in the Olympic final,” Wiebe joked to reporters, “and to have a welcome home like this, it's amazing.”
Among those welcoming the Stittsville native was the Ottawa councillor for the area, Shad Qadri, who said, “the excitement this has created around the city is amazing.”
Ottawa’s Mayor Jim Watson added “It’s a proud moment for the city,” then asked to touch Wiebe’s gold medal hanging around her neck, adding, “It’s heavy.”
Dean Sherratt, with the National Capital Wrestling Club said, “It was obvious she was going to be very good,” of his days when he coached Wiebe a decade ago.
Many young wrestlers from the club were also out to greet the gold medal winner.
15-year-old Cole McKee had wrestled with Wiebe. Asked how he did, he said, “Oh, she won against me, she’s very good.”
“It shows us that if you have perseverance and work hard,” added 19-year-old wrestler Andrea Pretty, “and you have the drive to work through whatever life throws at you, you can make it there.”
Another one who “made it there” is 24-year-old Natasha Watcham-Roy, who won bronze with the women's Rugby Sevens.
“It was amazing to see my friends and family all together for this moment,” said Watcham-Roy, “and be able to share my medal and Olympic journey with them.”
And it wasn't just medal winners arriving back home today. Among those arriving at the airport were some of the Canadian men’s volleyball players who train in Gatineau and had exceeded all expectations at the Rio Games. Ottawa’s Melanie McCann competed in the modern pentathlon for Canada. Conlin McCabe, born in Brockville, competed in men’s rowing. They are all accomplished athletes with fans anxious for a hug, an autograph and maybe even a chance to snap a photo with a medal.
Erica Wiebe heads back to Calgary in a few days but plans many return trips to Ottawa as an unofficial ambassador for the next team of winners.
“I want to be there in 2020,” Wiebe said, “but maybe someone will come and knock me off and if they can do that, maybe it's the best for Canada.”
Wiebe took a very special call this afternoon from the Prime Minister, who wanted to congratulate her.
Then, Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Goulbourn Recreation Complex, the city of Ottawa will host a special event for the gold medal winner.
