INUVIK
It takes something special to keep the attention of students on the last day of class before spring break.

Olympian Jesse Cockney, left, posed with River Ross of the Inuvik Speed Skating Club, fellow Olympian Michael Gilday and Alex Robertson of the speedskating club April 11 at East Three Secondary School following a presentation by the NWT athletic stars. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

For East Three Secondary School students, that came in the form of NWT Winter Olympians Jesse Cockney and Michael Gilday.

The two territorial stars were wrapping up a multi-day visit to Beaufort Delta communities that included stops in Tuktoyaktuk and Aklavik. The duo visited East Three as its Snow Week activities wrapped up April 10.

Cockney is a cross-country skier who was raised mostly in Tuktoyaktuk, with plenty of family connections throughout the region.

Gilday is from Yellowknife and is one of Canada's high-profile short-track speedskaters.

Although neither won a medal at the Olympics, it didn't matter to the students they were talking to.

The Yellowknife resident spoke honestly and passionately about his journey to become an Olympian and some of the sacrifices that has required.

He said he first began to dream of competing in the Winter Games when he was "maybe nine years old" and has pursued it ever since.

That's required a huge amount of self-discipline and devotion to keeping himself in the best possible condition to practice and train.

At times, that's meant he's had to turn down invitations to go party with his friends, or do things that wouldn't have left him in the best position to attend a training session the next day. Often those sessions are early in the day as well, he said.

"That's been tough sometimes," he said. "But I have a passion for the sport."

That self-discipline has served him well, though, because he landed a spot on the 2014 Olympic team competing in Sochi, Russia.

That's not to say all of his stories were about unrelenting self-sacrifice.

Gilday provoked laughter when he described attending the opening ceremonies, when a teammate accidentally stepped on one of his shoes.

The semi-official portrait that was hanging at the team's headquarters showed everyone but him with a smiling face looking at the camera, he said, while he was looking down fumbling with his shoe.

"I don't know if that's the best memory I have," he said. "But it's the one I think I'll remember longest."

Cockney also caught the students' attention with his description of his nine-year journey to the Olympics.

He was particularly compelling when he talked about a veteran teammate who had undergone multiple back surgeries and never made the Olympic team.

That skier, Cockney said, had become the father figure of the team, and became a key mentor for him when he joined the team.

Cockney said that he initially regarded the man as "ancient" at the age of 32, but the two quickly developed a competitive and teacher-student relationship that the youngster badly needed.

The two made the team this year, and Cockney said he hoped he had provided a little fuel for that success.

He also made reference to the unwavering support of his family in the long march to making the Olympic team.

Both Gilday and Cockney spoke of the importance of Northern athletes striving to make a name in international sports, even if they come from small populations compared to the south.

The two spent some time the day before with members of the Inuvik Speed Skating Club. Alex Robertson is one of the top performers on that team, as is River Ross, and they both said they enjoyed the chance to meet the athletes.

"It's been great," said Ross. "They're just regular guys, but it's inspiring too."

Robertson said Gilday donated some equipment to club members, which was very generous. The items were spread out amongst the team.

As they wrapped up their presentation, the two athletes received heavy applause as vice-principal Lorne Guy said "we look forward to seeing you at the 2018 Games."