Jade Scognamillo has become a bit of a local celebrity after first swimming Lake Erie, and later becoming the youngest person to ever swim the traditional route across Lake Ontario at 15. So, it's not surprising that she is one of the people from Caledon chosen to carry the Olympic torch.
Today an enthusiastic Scognamillo will be in London to carry the torch at 3:04 p.m. on Wellington Road from Colgrove Place to Grand Avenue. The Enterprise sat down with her before her 300 metres in the spotlight.
Scognamillo is one of 14 torchbearers hand selected by the provincial government for their contributions to community and sport. Scognamillo became a Canadian citizen on July 1 so that she could make her record-breaking Lake Ontario swim as a Canadian. About a month later she received a call asking if she would like to be an Olympic torchbearer.
"I had no idea about it," said the 16-year-old British born swimmer. "I don't think that I'd be asked to be a torchbearer if I wasn't a citizen. If you think about it, it's kind of a big deal to run as a Canadian with the torch." While she knew that she would be a torchbearer since the summer, she was asked to keep it quiet and initially told only two friends. Later she was to be featured in a commercial on the tourism Ontario website, which blew the secret when cameras came to film her piece at the pool where she trains. "I couldn't really hide it from my swim team when the camera crew came."
Scognamillo received her Olympic gear in the mail in advance of her run and said the first thing she did was open the package and try it all on. She refrained from wearing it in advance of her big day to keep it from getting dirty, but, "After, I'm going to wear it everywhere."
While the 16-year-old is a Caledon resident, she didn't get to choose where her run would take place. Even though she doesn't get to do her leg at home, it's exciting nonetheless.
"I'm slightly nervous... mostly mixed emotions, but I'm so excited to do it," said Scognamillo three days before the big day. "I don't think I'd mind (running) anywhere. Caledon is home, so it'd be nice to do it here, but anywhere I'd be happy to do it."
As a keepsake, the torchbearer will get to keep her Olympic gear, as well as her torch, which her parents purchased as a late birthday and early Christmas gift. Scognamillo wasn't supposed to find out that she was going to be able to keep the torch, but received a receipt that included it.
The whole family is heading to London to support the young record-holder, including her grandparents who are visiting from England.
While some friends were going to try to come watch, Scognamillo wasn't sure how many would make it. "I don't think their parents want to drive all that way just to watch me run 300 metres." However, anyone wanting to watch can stream footage from a live camera following the torchbearers at www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/follow-torch/index.html.
For a girl who swam two lakes, 300 metres is hardly a daunting task, but Scognamillo has a few reservations. "I'm not a very good runner, but 300 metres I think I'll handle, as long as I don't trip and fall."
As for whether this opportunity changed her Olympic aspirations - "Nope. I still want to go."
During her two lake swims Scognamillo raised funds to purchase new equipment for Sickkids. She will again be accepting donations for the hospital until Dec. 31. To donate visit www.jadeswim4life.com.
