Former Fort McMurray curler just wants ‘everyone to get out safely’

Curler Lori Olson-Johns broke down in tears during her lunch break Wednesday at Paul Kane High School in St. Albert, Alta.

The third for skip Val Sweeting works as a physical education teacher and she tried to focus on an afternoon of rugby and CrossFit. But Olson-Johns grew up in Fort McMurray and couldn’t erase the images of her hometown burning to the ground.

“It’s pretty devastating,” she told Postmedia, her voice cracking. “Just seeing the footage on the news and hearing about people trying to get connected with their families — my thoughts and prayers are up there.

“I just want everyone to get out safely.”

Olson-Johns used to curl in downtown Fort McMurray at MacDonald Island Park, which served as the initial evacuation centre until the facility itself was deemed to be under threat.

“I don’t know much about the home that I grew up in,” said Olson-Johns, who returned to Fort McMurray to launch her teaching career after receiving her education degree from the University of Alberta. “My main concern is making sure all my friends are safe and my mind is definitely with all the people of Fort McMurray.”

Athlete of the week

Damian Warner, decathlon: Ashton Eaton is considered the overwhelming favourite to win gold in Rio, but the American took notice over the weekend after Warner set a personal best of 8.04 metres in the long jump at the University of Georgia. “Nice jump man,” Eaton wrote in a note to Warner on Twitter. “Looks like we’re going to have a good fight on our hands.” Warner, of London, Ont., won silver at the 2015 world championships behind Eaton, who set a world record with 9,045 points.