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Paralympic champion Stilwell answers to critics upon return from Rio

Sep 21, 2016 | 9:38 PM

NANAIMO — Paralympic champion Michelle Stilwell returned from Rio sporting two new gold medals, seemingly unfazed by her critics.

Stilwell was greeted by a cheering crowd at Nanaimo Airport Wednesday afternoon, beaming as she wore her latest gold medal haul around her neck.

“So great. I just need to stop looking at people who are crying because it’s making me cry,” said the Parksville native when asked what it was like to return to such a warm welcome. “Paralympians work so hard every day to do what they love.”

The gold medals in the 100-metre and 400-metre T52 races in Rio were the sixth and seventh medals of Stilwell’s Paralympic career. Six of those are gold, the other silver. Her performance this year also included Paralympic record times in both races.

But while The Parksville-Qualicum Liberal MLA was in Rio competing for her country, many people back in B.C. took to social media and used the opportunity to criticize Stilwell over her ability to train and compete at such a high level and still complete her duties in the legislature.

“My response to that is that everybody has an outside life, no matter what their job is,” says Stilwell, who also serves as the Minister of social development and social innovation. “There is no doubt that I work very hard in my job, I do everything I can to support my constituents.”

A letter written to the Times Colonist states Stilwell should put her job on the line to help people with disabilities, stating “…then she would be a true champion. Until then, the achievements of the athlete will not excuse the failures of the minister.” The post was shared on the Facebook page of the B.C. Disability Caucus. The page is littered with posts sharing negative reviews of the Minister’s work standing up for people with disabilities.

“Everyone has a right to their opinion, I know in my heart that I’ve done everything that I can to improve the situation for them, I’m not done,” says Stilwell. “If they’d like to come and talk to me personally instead of going on Facebook and ranting I’d welcome that opportunity.”

Switching gears back to her most recent athletic accomplishments, Stilwell says each medal over her career, the first coming in Sydney in wheelchair basketball in 2000, comes with its own journey and story.

At London she says she was nervous coming in as the defending champion. In Rio, the feeling was one of confidence in the training that led up to the games.

Friday will be Michelle Stilwell Day in Parksville. That declaration was made by Parksville council on Monday. She already has the key to the city, becoming the first person to ever earn the honour in 2012.

As for her Paralympic future, the 42-year-old says 2020 is a long way away.