Saskatoon track star Harrison set to make long-awaited Olympic debut in Paris

A agelong and frustrating recreation time returning from Canadian Olympic Trials past period turned into 1 of nan astir typical of Michelle Harrison’s life.

She was told by nan Canadian Olympic Committee that she had been selected for nan 2024 Paris Olympics, marking nan pinnacle of her way and section profession truthful far.

“It was conscionable a operation of emotions from alleviation from nan accent of nan qualification process to conscionable being happy that my dream yet came true,” said Harrison.

“I was connected a lengthy roadworthy travel backmost from Montreal aft a cancelled flight. So it was conscionable a full rollercoaster of emotions.”

The 31-year-old will make her Olympic debut successful Paris, completing a travel which has taken nan Saskatoon merchandise from Evan Hardy Collegiate to nan University of Saskatchewan Huskies and a successful master profession connected nan track.

Along nan way, she’s had Jason Reindl by her broadside arsenic coach from her early days pinch nan Saskatoon Track & Field Club successful precocious schoolhouse to winning golds astatine nan U Sports nationalist level pinch nan Huskies.

Now Reindl, who besides leads nan Huskies way and section team, is getting his first opportunity to coach astatine an Olympics arsenic he’ll beryllium joining Harrison overseas to support her training during nan Games.

“Getting this opportunity [with a] first-time coach, first-time athlete, calved and raised successful Saskatoon together, some Evan Hardy grads, it conscionable really intends a lot,” said Reindl.

Harrison has called Reindl her coach for nan amended portion of a decade and credits him for helping elevate her moving to nan Olympic level.

“One of nan things I had problem pinch early successful my profession was uncovering a coach that I worked good with,” said Harrison. “Being capable to person Jason and moving together pinch him complete nan past fewer years has been a immense game-changer for my career.”

After her collegiate profession pinch nan Huskies ended, Harrison was connected Canada’s radar for nan 2020 Tokyo Olympics until nan pandemic, wounded and unwellness delayed that dream.

Even pinch nan disappointment of waiting for Paris 2024 to travel around, Harrison took her moving to different level, winning 3 consecutive Canadian nationalist titles successful nan 100m hurdles from 2021 to 2023 pinch a metallic badge precocious won astatine Canadian Trials.

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“The timing of that is very unsocial and we’re going to beryllium talking astir it for a agelong time,” said Reindl. “But that 2020 twelvemonth was erstwhile it was like, ‘OK this is real. We’re going to really prioritize it.’ The remainder is benignant of history complete these past 4 years.”

Harrison’s training is dissimilar galore different athletes connected nan Canadian nationalist team, arsenic she trains year-round successful her location metropolis of Saskatoon alternatively than a metropolis pinch a warmer moving environment.

Getting to scope her extremity of cracking an Olympic squad while racing astatine nan Gordie Howe Sports Complex is thing that hasn’t been mislaid connected Harrison, riding a activity of support from Saskatchewan to her infinitesimal connected nan way successful Paris.

“When I was young I sewage pushed distant a batch trying to spell to different opportunities,” said Harrison. “But I really only tally accelerated here, truthful it’s typical to beryllium capable to do that pinch my friends, family and support system.”

Seeing nan dedication from Harrison each training session, Reindl added it’s a testament to her resiliency to person nan patience to spot her Olympic dream go a reality.

“It’s a awesome story,” said Reindl. “It’s sewage a fewer chapters of, ‘Oh that benignant of sucks.’

“But erstwhile you get to ‘Chapter Blank: The Olympics,’ that’s erstwhile you grin and it brings a tear to your eye.”

Harrison is 1 of 3 Saskatchewan-based athletes to beryllium competing successful way and section successful Paris, joining chap first-time Olympian and Canadian grounds holder successful 400m hurdles Savannah Sutherland, arsenic good arsenic Olympic seasoned successful rod vault Anicka Newell.

Harrison’s first power astatine nan Paris Olympics will travel connected Aug. 7.