Triple gold medallist an example to Catholic youth

By Mike Horan, Catholic News Service

After all of the St John Neumann parishioners who wished to sign an autograph book had written their messages of “good luck” and “Go USA!” the book was packed up with the Schmitt family and headed to London.

Olympic triple gold-medal swimmer Allison Schmitt, a 22-year-old parishioner of St John Neumann church in Canton, Michigan, received the book when her family arrived and couldn’t believe the support she was getting.

“She’s just so appreciative of the support she’s received from the parish, from the community,” said Gail Schmitt, Allison’s mother. “Just being able to share the happiness, joy and hard work with everybody is really important to her and she was really touched by it.”

Allison Schmitt won three gold medals, a silver and a bronze in this year’s 2012 Summer Olympics, and St.John Neumann is abuzz about its Olympic gold medalist. The swimmer returned home on August 13. Other gold medalists in the US swimming team include Katie Ledecky and Missy Franklin.

Allison Schmitt of the US poses with her gold medal after winning the women's 200 freestyle final with an Olympic record during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Schmitt, a parishioner at St John Neumann in Canton, Michigan, finished the Olympics with three gold medals, a silver and a bronze. (CNS photo/Toby Melvilley, Reuters)

“We’ve had parishioners e-mailing stuff throughout the whole week [of Allison’s events], saying how she did in preliminaries, how she did in the semifinals and finals. They’ve posted pictures from the sports blog online,” said Fr Ron Richards, pastor of the Canton parish. “Most of the parish is aware of what’s been happening,” the priest told The Michigan Catholic, newspaper of the Detroit archdiocese.

Gail Schmitt spoke of her daughter’s accomplishments but was most proud of the person she has become. “Of course I’m so proud of her. I’m proud of her accomplishments in the pool and the hard work and dedication that it takes to get there; it’s just amazing,” she said. “But what really makes me feel good is repeatedly any time we meet anyone that has anything to do with her or with swimming, the first thing they say is how much of a light she is and how much she is so positive and a joy to be around. That’s something she’ll have her whole life.”

Luzvilla Dresbach, an extraordinary minister of holy Communion at St John Neumann, had a chance to meet Allison in 2008 after she won a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics. Along with her husband, Jim, she has followed the swimmer’s career ever since.

“She was so gracious and wasn’t too proud; she was just so happy,” Dresbach said. “She was wearing her medal on her neck, and I asked if she could take a picture with me and if I could wear the medal. I think the pride and joy of our parish is so full of faith for her that she would do well, and she’s done everything we’ve wished for.”

Fr Richards, who used to coach swimming at a high school, has had a special connection with Allison whenever she has been home and at Mass.

“Every time I’ve talked with her she’s been really gracious and always comes up and says hello and sees how things are going,” he said. “She’s the fastest ]freestyle swimmer] in the world — that’s enormous, it’s just gigantic. The amount of strength and dedication and hard work it takes to reach that level, there’s no way to explain it.”

Although Fr Richards is pleased to have Allison as a parishioner, he explained it’s more important that she is believer in God and could be a role model for young Catholics.

“It’s more than having an Olympic swimmer in our parish; it’s having someone who believes in our faith,” he said.

“Whenever she’s home from school, she’s here at Mass. It’s really cool to have someone who believes in God and celebrates God, but is also able to take the gifts God gave her and really put it to success. It’s a great representative of a good, quality young Catholic person from our parish to be.”