‘A leader in class’: Sask. Olympian’s roots at Waldheim School

Canada’s women’s rugby team claimed a historic silver medal after a loss in the final against New Zealand on Tuesday.

Waldheim’s Carissa Norsten is one of 12 players with Canada’s rugby seven’s team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Carissa Norsten’s Team Canada headshot, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (Instagram/Carissa.Norsten)

But back in 2011, she was a new student at Waldheim School, entering Bobby-Jo McKay’s grade three classroom.

“I remember that class so well because it was my first class,” explains McKay, then known as Miss Reddekopp. “She was definitely a leader in the class. She was very helpful towards me. I think that’s why I remember her so well.”

Carissa Norsten, back row second from right, in Bobby-Jo McKay’s grade three class at Waldheim
school. (Submitted)

McKay says even in grade three, Norsten was a driven athlete.

“I can clearly remember her athleticism and her dominating on our track and field days. And she was just a nice, memorable kid,” recalls McKay.

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Though McKay no longer teaches at Waldheim School, which is about 20 minutes north of Martensville, she says that a group of Norsten’s former teachers from that time have started a group chat to watch Norsten in Paris and cheer her on from Saskatchewan.

“I’m still friends with a lot of her teachers who taught at that school, and we’re all so proud of her. It was just so exciting to watch her and to have known her,” says McKay.

So what was a grade three Carissa Norsten like back in 2011?

“She was kind of a firecracker,” laughs McKay. “She had a lot of personality, she worked really hard. She was funny, and she was strong.”

In Tuesday’s gold-medal final, Canada came up short against New Zealand 19-12, securing them a silver medal.