Squamish continues to generate the top cycling athletes in British Columbia.On Monday (Feb. 11), Grade 12 Howe Sound Secondary student, Miranda Miller, was one of 99 athletes recognized by the provincial government for excellence in their sporting achievements in 2006/07. Recipients of the Premier's Athletic Award had their photographs and achievements mounted on a commemorative plaque, which will hang for one year in the BC Hall of Fame.
"I felt very lucky," said Miller of her experience. "It was pretty humbling to see how many people my age and younger are achieving such high goals. And there are so many different sporting disciplines from table tennis to netball, judo, shooting, riding, and waterskiing."
The annual Premier's Athletic Awards recognize top female and male athletes in each of the sports and post-secondary institutions participating in the 2006/07 B.C. Athlete Assistance Program. These awards honour athletes who, through their commitment to hard work and excellence, have left their mark on sport in B.C.
"In two short years, we may be watching some of these recipients represent British Columbia and Canada at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games right here in Vancouver and Whistler," said Campbell during the presentations. "Others will go on to compete at world championships and other Olympics and Paralympic Games. I congratulate each and every one of these outstanding and inspirational athletes and wish them success as they reach for the highest levels of athletic achievement."
What was particularly impressive, said Miller, was the number of disabled athletes who perform to such a high level under what, to many people, are very difficult circumstances. Sledge hockey, equestrian, gymnastics, curling, basketball and many others were honoured - there were even two blind athletes who play goalball.
As each athlete mounted the stage, a composite photograph of them "in action" was projected onto screens on either side of the room. The sharp contrast between the genteelly dressed young person on the stage and the concentration, focus and strength of body and purpose displayed on the screens provided a lasting image."I was really pleased to have downhill recognized at this level," she added. "As it is not an Olympic sport, and, consequently receives no funding at a national level, it is important to the discipline to keep it in the limelight as much as possible in the hopes that this will change one day soon."
In her sport of Downhill Mountain Biking, Miller was the Junior Provincial Champion in 2006 and 2007, winner of the Canada Cup in 2006 and 2007, National Champion in 2006 and second in 2007, and a member of the National Team at the World Championships in Fort William, Scotland 2007.
During the latter race Miller broke her collarbone instead of a record, but is now back training with her sights set on regaining her place on the National team in order to change her outcome at the Worlds in Italy in June 2007.
