On Thursday, March 26, Brookfield Elementary welcomed the Tour of Olympians, bringing the excitement of speedskating to students with a visit from 2022 and 2026 Olympians Ethan Cepuran, Julie Letai, and Sarah Warren. The stop marked the only school visit on the tour and was made possible by Brookfield Central (BC) senior Aidan Liu, co-founder of the Let’s Skate Foundation, who leads the country’s only high school speedskating team at BC and advocated for the visit.

Throughout the three-hour event, students had the opportunity to engage directly with the athletes. The first portion featured four gym sessions, each welcoming around 120 students, where Olympians shared their journeys, answered questions, and showcased highlight videos from both short and long track speedskating. The visit also highlighted Elmbrook’s strong speedskating legacy, including Olympic medalist Kip Carpenter, and featured participation from local skaters in the Pettit Junior Short Track Program and the Elmbrook Speedskating Club.

In the final hour, a smaller group of students took part in a hands-on dryland training session, learning the basics of speedskating alongside the Olympians. From storytelling to demonstrations, the event created an engaging and inspiring experience, giving students a unique look at what it takes to compete at the highest level while sparking excitement for the sport within the Elmbrook community.

 

 

 

 

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