She sat on Canada’s alternate Canadian women’s goalball team team during the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. But, it’s the real deal this year for 23-year-old Emma Reinke of St. Thomas who will compete front and centre at the 2020 Paralympic Games. And to lend moral support for her daughter, Heather Wittland Slusarcyk teamed up with Earl Taylor, chairman of the Downtown Development Board, to hoist a banner high above Talbot Street.
The banner was hung across Talbot at New Street Wednesday morning while Elgin-Middlesex-London MP Karen Vecchio dropped by to lend support.
The Paralympian will have to rely on photos from mom as Reinke is in Ottawa preparing to depart Aug. 9 for Tokyo.
Reinke has been playing goalball for over eight years. She is one of three Ontario goalball players preparing representing Canada at the 2020 Paralympic Games. She is also one of three players making their Paralympic Games debut. Reason enough to celebrate says her mother, while fighting back her emotions.
The Games run from August 24th to September 5th, with Canada’s first game Aug. 25. The full schedule can be found here.
