Residents in the Ottawa Valley are cheering on hometown Olympians who are competing in Tokyo.
Two local athletes are preparing for the upcoming 800-meter event this Thursday (July 29th) at the Japan National Stadium.
For Madeleine Kelly of Pembroke, it’s her first Olympics, for Melissa Bishop-Nriagu of Eganville, it is her third.
Both women call Renfrew County ‘home’.
Warden Debbie Robinson is extremely proud of these exceptional athletes and says Renfrew County residents will be watching and cheering along Thursday night.
Robinson adds both of these women proudly represent not only their country, but also the determination and dreams of the people who live in their hometowns of Pembroke and Eganville, and across Renfrew County.
Melissa Bishop-Nriagu returns to the track for her third Olympic Games, and the Town of Eganville is ecstatic with hometown pride. Melissa started running laps for fun at school when she was 10 and began training and competing at age 13. She had her Olympic debut at the 2012 games in London, and in Rio 2016 where she lowered her own national record to 1:57.02 and finished fourth in the 800m.
Madeleine Kelly makes her Olympic debut this Thursday night during the 800m where she will run along with her teammate and idol, Bishop-Nriagu. Madeleine started running track when she was 12, and while she grew up as a downhill skier, she had a true passion to run. She wanted to represent Canada ever since watching Melissa Bishop compete at the London 2012 games.
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