INUVIK - If there was one message Olympic gold medallist Carol Huynh wanted to get across to students at Samuel Hearne Secondary School last week, it's that she's an ordinary person who worked hard and made her dream a reality.

"I just happened to find something that I was very passionate about," said the 28-year-old who captured her gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Samuel Hearne student Chris Church gets a lesson on the mat from Olympic wrestling gold medallist Carol Huynh. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photos

"I was able to work toward it in order to reach the goal that I had. If I can do it, they can do it, too - whatever their dream is, whatever their passion is. I really believe that."

Her point was heard loud and clear by 12-year-old Tamara Moore who attended Huynh's slide show presentation on Sept. 9 in the school's gymnasium. The up and coming Delta Demons wrestling team member said she couldn't wait to get on the mat again.

"It was exciting because I love wrestling," she said. "I think if I keep wrestling I can turn out to be like her. She seemed so nice. She made me feel that I can go to the Olympics if I keep working hard."

Huynh was in town as part of a four-day visit to the Beaufort Delta. She shared her story and gold medal with students in Inuvik, Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson on Sept 10 as well as Tuktoyaktuk on Sept 11.

She also made time to share her wrestling skills with students in two open practices held in Inuvik - one after her afternoon presentation, the other on Sept. 12. She did the same during her visit to Tuktoyaktuk.

In fact, Samuel Hearne student Chris Church had the good fortune of being thrown around like a rag doll in front of his schoolmates and teachers after he bravely volunteered to match up with the elite athlete.

With the help of some sponsors, Delta Demons coach Steve Baryluk was able to convince the Olympian to make the trip.

The feisty world class athlete overcame challenges to make it to the top. Her parents were refugees from Vietnam who settled in New Hazelton, B.C., sponsored by the local United Church. Despite growing up in a community where the population was a mere 300, Huynh found a way to get recruited to the Simon Fraser University wrestling team in Vancouver. Facing some tough competition there, she wondered early on whether to continue. She tried, and failed, to qualify for the Olympics in 2004.

But after every set back, she reclaimed her determination and believed in herself. Bearing an easy smile, she said it's her mission to instill that same fighting spirit in youth.

"I take it very, very seriously," she said. "It might not be success in sport - it might be music, it might be becoming a teacher, becoming a social worker, whatever their passion is. If they imagine something that they want to become, they just need to learn the tools and have the support in order to get there."

For her it all started by having great friends around her.

"It was my friends," she said. "I tried to join wrestling in Grade 9 and I quit. The next year I came back, mainly because of their encouragement."

Samuel Hearne student Trevor Thrasher was another who took her words to heart and stuck around for some lessons afterwards.

"She's a hero because she represents Canada really well," said Thrasher. "She taught me the most important thing is every time you fall down, you've got to pull yourself back up again."