Visually impaired athlete Robbi Weldon inspires students in Rainbow Schools

Robbi Weldon, a two-time World Champion cyclist and four-time Gold medalist at the 2011 Parapan American Games, will visit Rainbow Schools on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.

An RBC Olympian from Thunder Bay, Weldon will address students at Sudbury Secondary School (in the library) from 9:30 am to 10:15 am and Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School (in the amphitheatre) from 11 am to noon. She will answer questions and discuss her challenges and successes as an athlete who is visually impaired.

As a competitive athlete all of her life, Weldon set World Records in Powerlifting in the ‘90’s. She has competed on the Canadian Para-Nordic Ski Team since 2006 and proudly competed for Canada at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.  Shortly after the Games, she made the Canadian Para-Cycling Team.

Competing with only six per cent vision, Weldon has a guide in front of her for skiing and a pilot on the front of a tandem for cycling.  Excellent teamwork and commitment to sport has been the core to Robbi Weldon’s success. 

Less than one year until the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games, she has her sights set on Gold on the Track & Road in Tandem Cycling with pilot Lyne Bessette.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.