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Three-time Olympian and Eganville native Melissa Bishop-Nriagu is the Games Ambassador for the Renfrew County 2023 Ontario Winter Games. She is speaking at both Opening Ceremonies for the Games (February 2 and 9 at Ma-te-Way Park, Renfrew). Here she is showing off her Ontario Winter Games merchandise.
RELEASE DATE:
January 31, 2023
Renfrew County’s own Melissa Bishop-Nriagu has been named the Ambassador for the Renfrew County 2023 Ontario Winter Games as she aims to inspire the next generation of local athletes.
Born and raised in the Ottawa Valley, Bishop-Nriagu hails from Eganville and is a three-time Olympian in Track and Field in the 800-metre event. She competed at the 2012, 2016 (finishing fourth) and 2020 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal at the 2015 World Championships. The silver medal win was the first ever medal in the 800m by a Canadian woman and she currently holds the Canadian record in the 800m.
Bishop-Nriagu graduated from the University of Windsor with degrees in Human Kinetics and Education. She also competed in the Ontario Summer Games in 2009 and knows first-hand the excitement, development and fun to be had over the course of these Games.
The three-time Olympian will be addressing the athletes during both outdoor Opening Ceremonies February 2 and February 9 at Ma-te-Way Park in Renfrew. Her message to the athletes at the Games is to compete well, but also to have fun with a smile on their faces and to create memories that will last a lifetime.
“I am so thrilled our community gets to host the Ontario Winter Games this year, growing up I had no idea that I would be a role model in my community but as I take on this role, I understand how important it is for our youth to see that anybody can make it on the world stage,” said Bishop-Nriagu. “You too can have big dreams, come from a small community, like Renfrew County, and make it. Just remember to be ambitious and be persistent with what your dreams are.”
Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon, Chair of the Games Organizing Committee, is extremely excited to have Bishop-Nriagu serve as the 2023 Ontario Winter Games Ambassador.
“Melissa has such a compelling story of dedication and hard work which will resonate with many of our young athletes coming to Renfrew County and with our friends, families and neighbours,” said Emon. “Her success as an athlete and her genuineness as a person has been an ongoing point of community and individual pride for many of us.”
Emon believes Bishop-Nriagu is an excellent example of the Ontario Winter Games’ values.
“Every day Melissa has exemplified our Games’ values of respect, integrity, teamwork, responsibility, accountability and excellence as a successful high-performance athlete, as a student and as a person,” said Emon.
The Ontario Winter Games are coming to Renfrew County from February 2-5 and February 9-12, 2023. The Games will feature 2,200 young athletes competing in 22 different sports at venues across Renfrew County and into Kanata. The event will be run with the help of more than 750 volunteers.
Please visit the Ontario Winter Games Social Media channels for a number of special messages from Bishop-Nriagu as the Ontario Winter Games Ambassador.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RenfrewCounty2023
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RC2023OWG
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renfrewcounty2023/?hl=en
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cindy Burwell Games Manager, Renfrew County 2023 613-433-1037
Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288
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