Brittany Bowe was known as a three-time speed skating Olympian. Before her claim to fame, she was on the women's basketball team for Trinity Catholic High School.
Visiting Her Alma Mater
In a report with The Florida Catholic, Bowe visited her alma mater on Friday, March 25. The trip was part of her two-day welcome home celebration in Ocala.
According to Team USA, Bowe recently won the bronze medal at the 1,000-meter speed-skating event during the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games.
The Olympic medalist received greetings from high school friends, faculty, and staff. An assembly of 525 students also gave her a warm welcome.
Sean Rylan James, a freshman at Trinity, called her an inspiration. James is also a basketball player at the Catholic school and said Bowe had a great character.
He added that her presence meant a great deal for student-athletes like him, especially in the basketball programs.
Faith, Beliefs
According to Bowe, her faith and beliefs were formed during her years at the school. She pointed out that her Catholic education "has shaped me to who I am today, and I give all the glory to God."
Bowe added that her faith helped her through hard times. She also said that she gave glory to God during her victories.
Her mother, Debbie, told the news outlet that she and her husband were determined to give their children a Catholic education.
Bowe's parents said that they wanted their children to grow in their faith and learn how to pray.
The 34-year-old added that she also owed her success to her parents. They ensured that their children grew up in a loving home. Growing up, their parents taught them strong morals and values.
Devotion to Blessed Mother
Bowe was also devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She shared that she always carries her grandmother's rosary with her.
She told the news outlet that carrying the rosary gave her peace and it was also a reminder that her grandmother was with her. Bowe said that she prays the rosary whenever she cannot sleep.
For her, the rosary was a "calm space."
Her mother recalled one time when Brittany broke the world record for the 1,000-meter ice skate a few years ago. Debbie found Brittany gathering unopened food at the back of the Olympic oval.
The Olympian wanted to give food to the homeless.
Importance of Teamwork
During the visit, she spoke to the students who were in attendance. Brittany encouraged the youth to use their God-given talents to bring glory to God.
She also stressed the importance of working as a team to achieve victory. Brittany said there was something special about playing team sports because everyone worked for a common goal.
The Olympian encouraged the students to lift each other and encourage one another.
She recalled one time when she collided with a teammate in 2016. Brittany had a concussion and needed a year to recover.
The bronze medalist said that she relied on God to help her with her healing. Without Him, she knew she could beat the odds.
Msgr. Patrick Sheedy, the pastor of the parish, commended her message. He encouraged students to look to God in the tough times because faith would see them through.
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