Jacqueline Gravel of Arran-Elderslie, east of Port Elgin, will be representing Team Canada in Cross-Country Skiing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, March 14 to 25. Chris Gravel photo

Hub Staff

Jacqueline Gravel (32) of Arran-Elderslie, east of Port Elgin, is one of two women from Ontario who will be representing Team Canada in cross-country skiing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, March 14 to 25.

Gravel took up the winter sport shortly after joining the Special Olympics in 2009 and was accepted into the provincial class in 2011 after competing in Thunder Bay. She lives in the country, which she says allows her to practise in perfect conditions approximately three times a week and spends a lot of time at Sawmill Trails in Hepworth, with her local coach Catherine MacKinnon who covers Central Bruce for Special Olympics Ontario.

At the 2016 National Special Olympics Winter Games held in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Gravel received gold in the 1km and 2.5km cross-country races and bronze in the 5km race.

Gravel said the National competition helped her prepare for her first Worlds next month where she will compete in the 1km and 2.5km and possibly more. “They'll probably get me to do relays, I’m sure,” she joked during a February phone interview. Gravel said that her upcoming races definitely feel longer than sprints and that she is looking forward to competing against the world.

“I would love to win a medal, don’t get me wrong, but I think my goal is just to improve on my times and just have fun,” said Gravel. “It feels good that I've accomplish my goal to try and proceed onto Worlds. And now that I’ve accomplished it, I feel pretty good that I’m representing my country.”

Gravel said she joined Special Olympics after her friend told her to become a part of it and wanted others to know that if they’re interested in sports, they should look into it. “[Special Olympics] helps you to learn and think, and mentally have a positive mind. It helps with motor skills and I recommend going into it because it will help shy people break-out and make some friends.”

Gravel admitted that she's made a lot of memories herself since joining Special Olympics, as it has allowed her to travel across Canada and she even “met a guy” who participates in a variety of sports and also joins Gravel on the trails as she trains for the Worlds next month.

In total 108 Canadian athletes will be taking over the World Winter Games in Austria where they will compete in Alpine and Cross-Country Skiing, Floor Hockey (mens team), Figure and Speed Skating as well as Snowshoeing. Overall six women from Canada will be competing alongside Gravel in Cross-Country Skiing.

Jacqueline Gravel (fourth from left) with members of Team Canada’s Cross-Country Ski team near Kelowna, British Columbia last December. Chris Gravel photo