On March 26, the Tour of Olympians stopped at Brookfield Elementary School, bringing the energy of speedskating straight to the Midwest region. The visit featured 2022 & 2026 Short Track Olympian Julie Letai, 2022 & 2026 Long Track Olympian & medalist Ethan Cepuran, and 2026 Long Track Olympian Sarah Warren. 

This tour showcased the deep legacy of speed skating in the Elmbrook School District. In addition to the Olympians, local speed skaters and Elmbrook students from the Pettit Junior Short Track Program and the Elmbrook Speedskating School District Club came to share their experiences. Sarah Merigold, Brookfield Elementary PE teacher and the organizer of the event, reflected on its nature: “When I first told the kids we would be having Olympians visiting our school, their eyes widened and jaws literally dropped in awe. The opportunity to interact with Ethan, Sarah and Julie and hear about their Olympic journey was a unique experience they will draw from for the rest of their lives.”

The Olympians stayed at Brookfield Elementary for 3 hours. In the first two hours, there were four 30-minute sessions in the gym filled with 120 kids each. In each session, students got to ask questions, watch highlight videos of both short and long track speedskating, hear the athletes’ stories, and learn what it really takes to compete at the Olympic level. 

For the last hour of the event, 40 students learned alongside the Olympians the very basics of speed skating through dryland training. 

Between the videos, questions, and group photos, there was a constant sense of excitement in the room. Students watched with amazement during the video, eagerly raised their hands for a chance to ask questions, and were filled with joy during the dryland demonstrations. The Olympians responded with openness, turning each question into a story or lesson. 

The Tour of Olympians is about bringing the sport to local communities and inspiring the next generation. For many students, this was their first introduction to speedskating, and a chance to see Olympians in a more grounded way.