Parry Sound’s Megan Oldham wins her second medal of the games

Parry Sound native Megan Oldham won Canada’s second gold medal at the Winter Games in the big air competition in Italy.

It was the performance of a lifetime, a gold medal showing for Parry Sound’s Megan Oldham. The 24-year-old picked up her second medal of the games Monday in the women’s big air competition.

“I was just hoping my score would be enough and as the last two girls came down, it really sunk in, like ‘Oh my gosh, this is happening,’” Oldham recalled.

It has been an amazing journey for Oldham after being sidelined by a concussion in November. With family and friends on hand, countless hours of training led to this moment.

“The jump is a fairly new trick for me that I learned this year,” Oldham said. “It’s very technical and you have to have a really proper take-off, otherwise it can be pretty dangerous, so lots of practice.”

As Oldham was competing, the eyes of the country were watching, none closer than those in her small hometown of Parry Sound, especially from her former high school.

“I had tears in my eyes,” said Parry Sound high school teacher Kristy Kujala. “I was so proud of her so excited and I couldn’t believe that she did it, although I can believe she did it because she has worked so hard.”

Student athletes who go to Parry Sound High School say the success of Oldham helps give them the courage to push forward with their own Olympic dreams.

“Honestly, it’s just so super inspiring to see someone from our school doing things like that,” one student said. “It’s just super neat to see that she’s able to do something like that. It just makes you think anything is possible coming from a small town like this.”

“I was watching it with my family and as she won gold, I was jumping up and down screaming,” another student said.

Oldham skiing days started and still continue at Mount Saint Louis Moonstone. Staff at the hill are celebrating their friend’s golden moment on Tuesday.

“Oh it’s over the top, you know how you know from our little ski hills here we’ve got an Olympic athlete that wins a gold and a bronze unbelievable,” said Robert Huter, owner of Mount Saint Louis Moonstone.

“Congratulations to her and inspiring young trainers to train here and maybe win gold themselves? Yes,” says one skier at the hill.

There will be plenty of opportunity for people to celebrate with Oldham when she returns home.

For one, the Town of Parry Sound is planning a massive celebration at the end of the month.

Mount Saint Louis Moonstone says it plans to name a run or a jump after her in her honor.