Team PEI 2020 Figure Skating will be represented by 1 athlete at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2020 in Thunder Bay, Ontario - Alyssa Chapman, Murray Harbour. Alyssa, Special Olympics PEI's most accomplished figure skating athlete, will be supported by long time private coach, Jessica Godfrey. While this will be Jessica's first time coaching at a Special Olympics National event, Alyssa will be representing PEI for the 8th time.
Alyssa, along with being a prolific figure skating athlete, is a strong multi-sport athlete, having seen success on the soccer field and swimming pool, along with on the skating rink. Alyssa has not only represented PEI at an impressive number of National Games, she has also represented PEI at 6 Canada Games, in Swimming and Figure Skating, and Canada at 2 Special Olympics World Games, both in Figure Skating. On the world stage, Alyssa was first a member of Team Canada at the 2013 Special Olympics World Games in South Korea, and most recently at the 2017 Special Olympics World Games in Austria.
Looking ahead to this Winter's Games, Alyssa is most excited about seeing old friends, including her fiance, Team BC Figure Skating athlete, Marc Theriault. Alyssa and Marc first met in 2008, at the National Games in Quebec City, through Special Olympics. After having been friends for years, they began dating in 2017.
Speaking about Jessica, Alyssa says that working with her has been great. After 4 years of working together the two have a great relationship. Alyssa says that Jessica takes time to demonstrate and explain. Alyssa's goal this year is landing a loop jump.
Jessica has been coaching with Special Olympics for 4 years. It was as Alyssa's Team Canada Training Coach ahead of the 2017 World Winter Games in Austria that Jessica became most connected to the Special Olympics movement. She says that attending the Team Canada Training Camp at Teen Ranch is her favourite Special Olympics memory. She made lots of great memories at the Camp, and the positive experience made her want to stick with the Special Olympics community.
In February of 2020, Special Olympics PEI will be represented by 38 athletes, supported by 11 coaches and 8 mission staff, at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2020 in Thunderbay, Ontario. Team PEI will compete in sports: 5-Pin Bowling, Cross Country Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing, and Speed Skating. Be sure to follow along between now and February as we continue to Meet Team PEI 2020!
Supporters of Special Olympics PEI are invited to follow Team PEI 2020, both in the lead-up to, and during the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2020! Our Team PEI 2020 website will be updated with schedules and results during the Games, and our social media channels - Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, will have photos and up to the minute news and highlights.
SUPPORT TEAM PEI
If you would like to support Team PEI 2020 Figure Skating athlete, Alyssa, as she trains to represent PEI at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2020, please consider either Drafting an Athlete or donating to the Team PEI Booster Club.
