Abby Dent’s silver medal was on prominent display at a community celebration in her honor.
A couple of hundred people gathered at the Kenora Rowing Club Tuesday night to get their picture taken and an autograph from the Olympic medalist.
She won the medal at the summer Olympics with the women’s eights rowing team.
Dent says she been able to have a bit of downtime since the summer games.
“Definitely relaxing a bit…I’m getting to see everybody and meet everybody and all the excitement with that, but no training yet,” said Dent during the meet and greet.
“I’m sure that will start next week but give it a couple of more days. You know, it’s been pretty exciting and lots of fun.”
Dent says she heads to the University of Michigan next week, for her final year.
Dent becomes the fourth Olympian from Kenora and only the second to win a medal at the Olympics.
She says the other Olympians from Kenora definitely inspired her.
“Kenora is a pretty small town so just to get to represent the hometown and add to the legacy of the Olympians before me was pretty exciting.”
Mike Richards won a gold medal in Olympic Hockey, while Gabe Mastromatteo competed in swimming in Toyko, and Michael Smith took part in a couple of Olympics in decathlon.
Dent says she plans to continue training to be able to go to the summer Olympics in 2028.
As part of Tuesday night’s festivities, the city announced it will be creating Abby Dent Row at Garrow Park and the Kenora Rowing Club christened a skull with the name Abby Rowed.
