Olympic silver medalist and Champlain College scholar/athlete in residence Ashley Brzozowicz delivered an inspiring motivational talk to the Excalibur women’s soccer team before training on September 27.

During the talk, Ms. Brzozowicz shared her experience of being in London for the 2012 Olympics where she won silver in the women’s eight rowing event. She also shared the highs and lows of being at the Beijing Olympics where she finished eighth in 2008 and missed out on the medals, to securing the silver in London, but just missing out on gold.

Ms. Brzozowicz also offered advice to the Trent student-athletes on how to balance both studies and varsity sport which she knows only too well as a graduate of Yale University, as well as visualization techniques that she used during the Olympics and what it was like as an Olympic athlete. She also brought her silver medal along for the girls to see and hold and had plenty of time for pictures and questions afterwards.

Speaking about the talk, Trent’s Varsity co-ordinator Paul Hunter said “It is great to bring in such a high calibre of athlete to share her experience with our athletes. Ashley is part of a very unique club of Olympic medalists and this is something that will stay with the varsity athletes their whole life.”

As Champlain College’s first athlete/scholar in residence, Ms. Brzozowicz is participating in a series of public events as well as small group activities, including planned programming and more spontaneous activities based on individual student interests. She also hopes to do additional talks with other varsity athletes.