Lucknow, Ont. cheering on local Olympian
The signs supporting Julie-Anne Staehli’s pursuit of Olympic glory are popping up every place you can imagine, in and around her hometown of Lucknow.
“Signs everywhere. Everyone is getting involved. We had a little contest on the Facebook group, encouraging people to decorate and they have just gone with it,” says neighbour and Staehli supporter, Chris Hackett.
Staehli, 27, who actually grew up just outside of Lucknow, is one of 57 track and field athletes representing Canada in Tokyo. She’ll be running the 5,000 metre (five kilometre) race, which she qualified for by setting personal best times below 15 minutes this spring.
“During COVID when facilities were closed down, the local gym was good enough to lend weights and workout gear. She was always running the roads out here, her mom biking beside her, trying to keep up, because she’s so fast,” says Cathy Gibson.
Hackett and Gibson started a Facebook group called Julie Anne’s Journey to the Tokyo Olympics with updates and trivia about the local Olympian. They’ve even collected over $6,000 in donations from the community to support Staehli’s journey to Tokyo.
“She’s a small town girl, but she’s on a big stage,” says Hackett.
Staehli’s Olympic debut, in the women’s 5,000 m qualifying heats, is scheduled for early Friday morning. Lucknow and the surrounding area will be watching.
“There’s going to be a lot of early morning Bailey’s and coffee, that’s for sure,” says Gibson.
You can follow Julie-Anne’s Journey to Tokyo, through her community’s eyes, here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.