Olympians and Paralympians from the province of Saskatchewan were honored at the provincial legislature.
Members of the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic games teams were celebrated by MLAs. Saskatchewan had 15 athletes in the Tokyo 2020 Games, including seven Olympians and eight Paralympians. For Beijing 2022, Saskatchewan had eight athletes – six Olympians and two Paralympians.
Jessica Frotten, a Paralympian in several track events in the Tokyo 2020 Games, was grateful for the support shown by the province.
“I think it’s really great to all come together as Team Canada,” said Frotten, originally from Yukon but currently working here in Saskatchewan. “We all cheered each other on for both Tokyo and Beijing so to come together and all be here today is amazing.”
She said that her Tokyo Paralympic experience was difficult after the Games were pushed back a year and then spectators weren’t allowed.
“It was a real struggle to just stay motivated and have competitions dropped off the ledger, left, right and centre,” she said. “Tokyo had been my dream for so long I was really holding onto that.”
Although Frotten didn’t win a medal at Tokyo, she still has the competitive fire to be back at the Paralympics. Frotten finished in fourth in her heat in the 800 metres, eighth in the 400 metres and seventh in the 1500 metres.
“I’m happy the Games went ahead, but I really feel like I only got 70 per cent of the experience, so I want to go to Paris,” she said.
Despite many challenges during the recent Olympic and Paralympic training cycles, this group showed perseverance and a drive to reach their dreams,” said Sask Sport chair Lance Dudar in a media release.
