Rugby should become Greater Napanee’s official sport-at least for the latter part of next week.
That’s because our own Britt Benn is slated to take the pitch to represent Canada during the women’s rugby sevens at the Olympic games in Tokyo.
Even those who have never watched a rugby match in their life will have reason to tune in and cheer on the hometown girl. While she is representing Canada at large, residents of Greater Napanee can take pride in knowing she’s repping our town as well.
Small communities generally don’t get a say in who becomes their most famous resident-that’s if they’re even lucky enough to have one make it to the international stage. Once they make it big the community is left to deal with the fallout of whatever image their superstar projects.
Fortunately for Napanee, Benn has been the type of role model parents wouldn’t object to their kids following. On the pitch she’s played through broken bones and shown unwavering dedication to a sport that wasn’t even an Olympic sport when she first picked it up at Napanee District Secondary School. Despite countless injuries, setbacks and personal sacrifice, she’s gone on to become one of Canada’s best rugby players at the international level. Already with an Olympic bronze medal to her name, it would have been easy for Benn to simply call it a career when the 2020 games were postponed due to the pandemic last summer. But to no one’s surprise, she quickly regrouped, went back to training and is now just a week away from her second Olympic games.
An intimidating figure on the field, off the field she is just the opposite. When not training in Langley, B.C. with Rugby Canada’s centralized program, she could often be found assisting with her former Golden Hawks high school program or making speeches at NDSS’ athletic banquet. For local athletes, girls in particular, she proves being from a small town doesn’t mean they have to dream small.
On a personal note, she’s always made time for the Napanee Beaver, whether she was on the other side of the country or the other side of the globe. She always makes sure to thank her hometown for all the support they’ve given her over the years, something she has returned in kind even after she made it to the pinnacle of her sport.
In short, the town couldn’t ask for a better ambassador in Benn.
And so even if there will be no fans in attendance in Tokyo, there will be no shortage of cheering heard throughout Napanee starting July 28 when Canada takes on Brazil at 8:30 p.m. eastern. On July 29 they take on Fiji (3:30 a.m. eastern) and France (8:30 p.m. eastern) before the playoffs begin on Friday.
Whether she can bring home another medal or not, Benn has already had a huge positive impact on this community. Maybe she inspired the next hometown Olympian-or doctor, or politician, or actor or whatever. Her example of never giving up, working hard and showing community spirit is something we can all learn from.
-Adam Prudhomme