Track and field’s power couple will be making an official visit to Humboldt in September to help out a local organization.
“On behalf of Calico Gymnastics Club I am very excited to announce that local Olympian Brianne Theisen-Eaton and her husband, reigning Olympic Gold medalist, Ashton Eaton will be the guest speakers at the ‘Dream Big, Achieve Bigger’ Olympian Gala in Humboldt,” Gala co-chair Jodi Smith stated in a press release.
The Calico Gymnastics Club’s first ever Gala will be held on Sept. 18 at the Humboldt Uniplex’s Jubilee Hall. Dave Hill, a longtime friend of the Theisen family, will act as the master of ceremonies. Tickets are now on sale at the Pharmasave in Humboldt.
Theisen-Eaton, the daughter of Humboldt’s Calvin and Kimberly Theisen, was the 2013 World Championships silver medalist and the 2014 Commonwealth Games heptathlon gold medalist. The homegrown star and her husband, the 2012 Olympic decathlon champion and world record holder, are certainly not strangers to Humboldt, but the Gala will be their first public event in the community. As well as speaking at the Gala, they will address Grade 5 to 12 students from the area at an assembly earlier in the day.
“Their commitment to fitness and living a healthy lifestyle fit perfectly with the values we try to instill in our gymnasts,” wrote Gala co-chair Val Graf in an email interview. “Brianne and Ashton are true role models who will inspire all who attend.”
The Gala is a crucial fundraiser for the local gymnastics club.
“We have been actively fundraising for a new facility to house Calico Gymnastics Club and all funds raised will go towards our capital fundraising campaign,” said Smith, who noted that with the support of the star track and field athletes the club will be one step closer to its goal.
Having the decorated athletes speak at the first ever event is certainly a coup for the Calico Gymnastics Club. Graf said the idea of inviting the dynamic duo came about during a brainstorming session.
“Our goal at the gym is to not only teach the sport of gymnastics but to also teach the kids about the importance of an active lifestyle, healthy eating, believing in yourself and working hard to accomplish your goals,” Graf wrote. “Someone suggested it would be great to get a guest speaker to come in who had the same values we try to instill in our gymnasts. We couldn’t think of anyone more perfect than Brianne and Ashton!”
With Theisen-Eaton and Eaton each having a busy schedule that takes them around the world, the Calico Gymnastics Club figured it would be a long shot for them to actually be able to come, Graf said. However, the couple said they’d be happy to come in the offseason.
Eaton grew up in Portland, Ore. It was while competing at the University of Oregon in Eugene that he met his future wife, a fellow multi-sport competitor. Both had great success in university. Theisen-Eaton was the first Canadian woman to win seven NCAA championships. She won three heptathlon titles, three pentathlon championships and helped her school capture a 4x400m relay title. Eaton was a three-time NCAA Div. I decathlete champion and a two-time indoor heptathlon champ. Both competed at the 2012 Olympics.
The Calico Gymnastics Club has members from around the region. Gymnasts come as far away as such communities as Bruno, Lake Lenore, Lanigan, and Watrous. Students usually range between three and 15 years of age. There has been an increase in male members.
The club is looking to build a new gymnastics facility for an estimated cost of $600,000 to $700,000. The hope is to start building in the fall of 2016 and move in the following spring. A new facility is needed to accommodate the club and to help with keeping the sport affordable.
“In our new facility we look forward to hosting competitions, which is great for the entire community when visitors attend our shops, restaurants and hotels,” Graf wrote.
With the strong support of a generous community, past fundraisers have netted $120,000 in the last year, she noted. Fundraising efforts were boosted by corporate sponsors Conexus Credit Union and PotashCorp, who donated $60,000 and $10,000.00, respectively.
“We have a lot of fundraising to do before we get to that point and really need the community’s support with all our fundraisers,“ Graf said.
