Paris library hosts Olympians for afternoon of inspiration

From left, Emma Johnston of the Brant County Public Library moderated a question-and-answer panel with Olympians Clair Scheffel and Angela Schneider during the library’s Unstoppable: An Olympic Celebration in Paris, held ahead of next month’s Olympic Games.

George Le Gresley

Paris Independent Contributor

Two Olympians, Angela Schneider and Claire Scheffel, came to Paris to take part in the Brant County Public Library’s panel discussion as part of the library’s Unstoppable: An Olympic Celebration. Garret Riley of Brantford, a Paralympic hockey athlete, was also scheduled to appear but was unable to attend due to illness.

Gathering Sunday, Jan. 18, at Create Well, 70 Harley Ave. in Paris, the two athletes reflected on the very different paths that launched their sporting careers. Claire, a member of the Canadian artistic swimming team (formerly known as synchronized swimming), started her journey at the Wayne Gretzky swimming pool. Angela, a member of the silver-medal Coxed Four women’s rowing team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, grew up in Rodney, just north of Chatham, and was recruited into rowing while competing in track and field at Western University.

Both athletes agreed that support from friends, family and the community is critical to continuing in sport, particularly given the lack of financial support. Fundraising and personal loans often made training possible. Claire shared that community support played a major role in her career, noting that a $500 donation in the 1980s, worth roughly $1,800 today, from the Rodney Legion helped her purchase her first oar, along with a loan from her high school physical education teacher. Although Riley was not in attendance, his grandparents were present, and it was noted that residents of Paris helped fund his first sledge, allowing him to begin his hockey career.

The athletes also spoke about the significant time commitment required for elite training, which often meant sacrificing a full school course load, time with friends and family, and the ability to hold part-time employment.

When asked about their favourite Olympic memories, both agreed that the opening ceremonies stood out. For Claire, it was riding down the Seine River on a boat, while Angela recalled walking through the Los Angeles Coliseum alongside athletes from around the world. Schneider also reflected on the Olympic Village experience, where athletes shared a common dedication to intense training and competition.

Their advice to parents was to encourage children to try a variety of sports and allow them to choose their own path if they wish to improve. They cautioned against parental pressure and poor spectator behaviour, emphasizing the importance of a positive environment. Athletes who train at such a high level experience many setbacks, but continued improvement requires putting those failures behind them. Schneider recalled how devastated she was when her team earned a silver medal rather than gold at the Olympics, noting that gold had been their goal. That disappointment, she said, eased when they eventually stepped onto the podium.

Scheffel is now retired from competition and joked that she is learning to become a “land mammal” after years in the water. She continues to coach young athletes while adjusting to everyday life. Over her career, she competed at the Pan American Games, World Aquatics Championships and the Paris Olympic Games.

Schneider competed most notably as a member of the rowing team that won silver at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She retired from competitive rowing in 1986 to pursue her PhD and is now a professor at Western University. She remains deeply involved in the Olympic movement, serving as a director with both the International Centre for Olympic Studies and the World Anti-Doping Agency’s education program. She continues to row, and her 1984 teammates are set to compete together at a masters event this summer.

The Brant Public Library, which organized the event, has begun celebrating this year’s Winter Olympics with special activities at all of its branches. Residents are encouraged to visit a local branch or the library’s website to learn more about upcoming programs and events.