It isn't every day that an Olympian comes to town, and Silken Laumann was happy to share her scratched up, oft-handled medals with those who attended the Sechelt and District Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Sept. 19.
Laumann, an Olympic rowing medalist in the 1984, '92 and '96 Games, spoke to a packed room at Pebbles Restaurant last Friday about the importance of having a vision and a team to actualize a goal. She talked about the importance of sport and movement at all ages.
"A lot of us think our body is just a way to take our head around from meeting to meeting," Laumann joked. "The way we think is the biggest influence on how we succeed. You need an imagination, an idea and a team to build it. We use our will and tenacity to get where we want to go."
Laumann spoke about the 2010 Olympics and the geographic opportunity the Coast has. She encouraged business people and politicians present to think hard about how to tap into communities' resources and come up with unique initiatives to encourage tourism, the arts and child and youth friendly activity."When we come from a place of abundance and graciousness, people are attracted to you. Inspiration is contagious," she said.
Laumann is a great supporter of getting young children active through play rather than organized sport. She wondered aloud why our culture has become concerned with making five and six year olds competitive, specialized athletes.
"What did we all do when we were kids?" she asked the audience. "We played."
Laumann suggested organized park dates in neighbourhoods where adults and children play together. In her own community, only six children came out the first time, but that quickly grew to about 35. She also suggested community open rec nights so kids can swim and move and dance and play games together unstructured.
"At my house, my 11-year-old son is allowed eight hours of screen time a week [of video games]," Laumann said. "And you'd think he'd leave for his friend's house, but my house is full of kids because we are always doing something."
Despite a debilitating injury while warming up for a pre-Olympic race in 1992 that left her lower right leg permanently damaged, Laumann went on to compete and win the bronze medal. She retired from the sport in 1999. Laumann admits she hates exercise in the traditional sense, swearing she will never spend an hour on a stair master.
"I should be using a cane by now but I'm into yoga, walking around the lake and active living with my kids," she said. "I do things that give me joy."
Laumann challenged everyone at lunch to make a difference in his or her activity level that day. Her enthusiasm and joy were infectious and she walked the talk, heading over to the Sechelt Aquatic Centre after lunch to work out.
