When physiotherapist Judith Proulx-Snedden first established her practice in Orléans in 1997 she had a dream to one day be part of Team Canada at the Olympics. That dream came true in 2006 when the owner of Physio Sports Plus on Place d’Orléans Drive was selected to be part of the Canadian medical team at the Winter Olympics in Turino.
She was chosen again to be one of the physiotherapists at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. But her ultimate dream was to take part in the Summer Olympics.
The first step was to be selected as one of the physiotherapists who accompanied Team Canada to the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile last November.
In order to have a chance at a spot on the Canadian team in Paris, you had to be available to work at both events.
After working at the Pan Games, Proulx-Snedden received a call from the Chief Therapist of the Olympic Team informing her that she had been selected to go to Paris.
“I was so excited. I already did two Winter Olympics, but the Summer Olympics are even more exciting. This was like winning a gold medal for me,” Proulx-Snedden said in a recent interview with the Orléans Star.
Proulx-Snedden left for Paris on July 16 to help set things up and to provide support for the athletes who were already there.
Although they weren’t able to stay in the Athletes’ Village, the physiotherapists and the rest of the Canadian medical team were able to stay in a university dorm just 500 metres away. They were also able to visit the village and eat in the athlete cafeteria.
During the Games, each physiotherapist was alloted their different sports and the athletes they would be providing physio-therapy for. Proulx-Snedden was given skateboarding, canoe slalom, kayak cross and triathlon.
When she wasn’t performing her official duties as a physiotherapist, Proulx-Snedden was able to see some of the other sports.
She was in the Olympic Stadium when the men’s 4x100 team won the gold medal.
“I was right at the spot when (André) de Grasse took the baton from (Brandon) Rodney. I saw they were ahead and I started jumping and screaming my head off,” says Proulx-Snedden.
She was also at the beach volleyball venue when Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes lost to Brazil in an exciting three-set final.
“It was so amazing to be there with the Eiffel Tower lit up in the background and the crowd going crazy. It was an experience I will never forget,” says Proulx-Snedden.
STRAY DOG 7-YEAR ITCH ANNIVERSARY PARTY starting at 2 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company located at 150 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. There will be family friendly games for all combined with great food, live music and, of course, plenty of suds.
SHENKMAN ARTS CENTRE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with lots of free activities for the whole family including dance workshops in hip-hop, contemporary, Bollywood and Kathak dance, bucket drum-ming and bubble art. There will also be a performance by Rwandan-Canadian singer Empress Nyiringango. ADMISSION IS FREE FOR EVERYONE..
ORLEANS FARMERS MARKET from 11 am to 4 pm in the parking lot at the Ray Friel Recreation Complex on Tenth Line Road featuring local food vendors and producers.
ORLEANS RIBFEST AND POUTINE in the Orléans Festival Plaza on Trim Road. Festival hours are Friday, Sept. 13 from 12 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free admission.
