Trevor Stewardson, Sasmis Tepee and Sarah Mickey all have Olympic spirit (Photo courtest Ross Lavigne)

By Teagan Rasche

Tokyo 2021

One month away: Olympic spirit grows across Medicine Hat

Jun 23, 2021 | 4:46 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Trevor Stewardson is now coaching in the city that made him an Olympian.

Back in 2003, he left his home in Thunder Bay, Ont. to pursue his dreams at the Medicine Hat Boxing Club.

“How amazing it was to see the support I received when I moved out to Medicine Hat, leaving my wife and two kids in Ontario,” Stewardson said.

Stewardson competed for Canada at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, placing in the top 16.

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He says the year he spent training alone without family was a rollercoaster. But the supportive community here is what got him through.

“Is this worth it? Why am I here?” Stewardson asked himself. “All those questions athletes ask themselves when they’re alone and they’re pushing hard and they’re not sure if they can make it or not. Between my wife back in Ontario telling me ‘No you gotta do it’ and the support that I had here saying ‘C’mon let’s go,’ it was undeniable.”

Stewardson loved Medicine Hat so much that after he retired from boxing he decided to raise his kids here.

It’s not just people in our community that have huge Olympic spirit.

One of our city’s most iconic landmarks is built on it.

The Saamis Tepee was constructed for the 1988 Calgary Olympics, but now stands in Medicine Hat.

Jace Anderson with Tourism Medicine Hat says it’s a great way to honour the Olympic legacy

“This represents I believe our relationship and commitment to the Indigenous community here and throughout southeast Alberta,” Anderson said. “It also very clearly represents a tie to the Olympic spirit.”

Anderson says the teepee is in the perfect location off the Trans-Canada Highway, as drivers can see it whether they’re heading east or west.

And you don’t have to look far to find more Olympic spirit. One local athlete has her eyes set on the Paralympics.

Sarah Mickey competes in seated discus throw and currently holds the Canadian record in her classification at 21.77 meters.

The 22-year-old’s record surpassed the Paralympic standard and now she’s just waiting to be officially named to Team Canada.

She says the community of Medicine Hat has been very supportive of her big dreams.

“Whether it be using tracks like this or at the Family Leisure Centre they’ve been good,” Mickey said. “Everyone that supported me, whether that be my family, friends or even just complete strangers, it’s been really awesome.”

Mickey is hoping to top her national record this year and earn a spot on the podium at the Tokyo Games.