Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski touched down at home late Monday oh-so tired but oh-so proud of the Olympic journey just completed. Her hubby-to-be gave the Calgary rower a grand hug — symbolic of the embrace millions of Canadians sent her way for once again doing the country a solid at the Summer Olympiad. “Feelin’ pretty great,” said Gruchalla-Wesierski, just moments after walking through the arrivals door — with silver medal in hand — at Calgary International Airport.
“It’s been 24 hours of travel, so I’m really excited to go home and just chill out a little bit,” continued the 33-year-old. “It’s been a pretty crazy week after our final — all good things, but we’ve just been partying maybe a little bit too much.” Indeed, that was obvious from her voice — raspy from plenty of ‘le bonheur’ in Paris after stroking with Canada’s women’s eight crew to silver medals nine days earlier.
But Gruchalla-Wesierski was at least audible in the aftermath of the celebrations, unlike fellow rower Jessica Sevick, when the Strathmore rower was met with a hero’s welcome at her drop-off point in Toronto earlier Monday. “It was just such a grind,” said Sevick, with barely a voice left to answer CBC at Pearson International Airport. “We just took the time to celebrate and enjoy our last couple of hours this week together.
” And why not? Sevick, Gruchalla-Wesierski and others of the women’s eight boat go down in history as members of Canada’s best-ever Olympic performance, podium-wise. Canadians return from the Paris hauling a record-breaking number of medals, bringing home nine gold and 27 total. Both are new standards for Canada at a non-boycotted Summer Olympics, surpassing previous highs set in Tokyo three years ago and 1992 in Barcelona.
Gruchalla-Wesierski herself leads the homecoming of locals with medals from two straight Games, after capturing women’s eight gold in Tokyo three years ago. “This silver means so much,” said Gruchalla-Wesierski, taking time to praise the Calgary Rowing Club for its support over the years. “I feel like when we won gold in Tokyo, it was a high I could never explain — like it just was such a shock.
And maybe because of COVID and everything, this year was a bit different. There was definitely a different kind of pressure. “It’s definitely a privilege, as well.
I still think, for some reason, people still counted us out, and I’m not sure why, but I think we proved those people wrong. “I’m just extremely proud of us.” Other silver medallists coming back to our area to be extremely proud of are Gruchalla-Wesierski’s teammate — and CRC clubmate — Sevick, 35, and rugby stars Piper Logan, 23 — of Calgary — Keyara Wardley, 24 — of Vulcan — and Krissy Scurfield, 21 — of Canmore.
And joining them as honoured first-time medallists is Eleanor Harvey, the much-revered coach at Calgary’s Epic Fencing Club, as the 29-year-old returns to the city with beautiful bronze and a first-ever fencing medal for Canada. All told, that’s six shining medals coming back to this region from Paris. “Just take a moment to enjoy it,” advised Gruchalla-Wesierski.
“I think, if anything, Tokyo made me realize how fleeting that moment is and just how quickly it goes by. The last three years have really gone by so quick. “So just take a second to enjoy it, realize what we’ve done and bask in it.
” Then it’s on to life ...
perhaps more Olympics or other adventures. For Gruchalla-Wesierski, those begin almost immediately, starting with wedding plans to finalize. Just three weeks from now, she’ll be in the spotlight again in front of friends and family — some 170 strong — to witness her marriage to Kolton Jordison.
“I’m an athlete — go big or go home,” she said with a smile, of the upcoming event which will reunite the recent rowing medallists. “We’re pretty stoked,” added her fiancé. “But we still have lots to do yet.
“It’s nice to have her back, for sure,” continued Jordison, who was a one-man greeting crew when Gruchalla-Wesierski hit the tarmac at YYC airport. “Last time when she got back from Tokyo, obviously, we had a little bit bigger fanfare here for that, because we weren’t able to be there and watch her compete there.” He was, among other loved ones, able to see her live in Paris.
“Absolutely, and I was very emotional — like the very first race I was out there to watch, I got to the stands, got chills and started getting emotional. It was just very emotional being there and seeing her repeat on the world’s biggest stage, and to see her come away with a medal in back-to-back Olympics is quite impressive. She’s one-of-a-kind, for sure.
“Having her back here and just seeing all the hard work and determination and sacrifices that she put in and for her to come away with a medal result is pretty impressive. Obviously, super proud and happy to have her back.” As is the double-medallist herself, after elevating the country — again — at the Olympics.
“I got to hug my family at the finish line and see my friends in the finish line, and we had over 100 people cheering for us at the finish line for two boats for Canada,” beamed Gruchalla-Wesierski. “So the fanbase was extremely special, and honestly, that’s what you always dream of. You dream of going to the Olympics winning gold and then hugging your family at the end of it.
And finally, I feel like it can put those three pieces together and rest up and enjoy what just happened. “Honestly, I’ll take having my family there at the finish line any day — that was just so special. I haven’t seen them very often in the last three years.
“Thank you all — thank you, Canada — for your support.”.
