Prime Minister, premier, MP hail P.E.I.'s newest Olympic gold medal winner
Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Guardian

Congratulations are pouring in today for P.E.I.’s newest Olympic gold medal winner Heather Moyse of Summerside.

Moyse and Kallie Humphries of Calgary earned the gold medal Wednesday night in the women’s two-person bobsleigh at the Vancouver Games.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today congratulated Humphries and Moyse, “whose exceptional performance today in the women’s two-man bobsleigh was rewarded with a gold medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.”

“All Canadians are immensely proud of Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse, our newest Olympic gold medal winners," said Harper. “Their remarkable accomplishment capped a great day for Canadian athletes at these games.”

This is their first medal in their second Olympic Games. Humphries has two fifth-place finishes at the World Championships and won the 2008 World Championship silver medal in the mixed team competition. Moyse has eight career World Cup podium finishes and finished fifth in the 2009 World Championships. She just missed a medal at the last Winter Games in Italy four years ago, finishing fourth by .05 of a second.

P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz applauded Moyse as Prince Edward Island’s newest Olympic medalist after four strong runs and setting both track and start records during competition held Tuesday and Wednesday.

“On behalf of the Province of Prince Edward Island, I am delighted to congratulate Heather on her medal performance,” said Ghiz. “This is a great day for Heather and we are extremely excited to share in the celebration.”

“Heather is an extremely hard working and dedicated athlete,” said Minister of Health and Wellness, Carolyn Bertram.

“She is an inspiration to young athletes and Islanders alike. On behalf of the Department of Health and Wellness, and particularly our division of Sport and Recreation, I want to congratulate Heather on her accomplishments at the 2010 Olympics. You have made us all very proud!”

After the first day of competition Tuesday night, Moyse and Humphries were in first place and they continued their strong

performance Wednesday with a medal performance – the first bobsleigh medal ever awarded to a Canadian women’s bobsleigh team. Team Canada 2, Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown, won the silver medal.

Heather is only the second Islander to win gold at the Olympics and the third to ever win a medal at the Games. David MacEachern of Charlottetown had teamed with Pierre Lueders for gold in the two-man bobsleigh in 1998 in Nagano, Japan.

Malpeque Member of Parliament Wayne Easter also issued a statement congratulating Moyse.

"With great excitement and pride, I wish to wholeheartedly congratulate Heather Moyse for joining the champion's circle and winning Gold for Canada. With strength and determination this remarkable woman has realized the dream and has put the community of Summerside on the forefront of Canada's Olympic achievements,” said Easter.

“While we celebrate today, we will all wait in anticipation to congratulate her in person when she brings home the gold."