This special community event will be held on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Park Amphitheater, located next to the Summit on the Park at 46000 Summit Parkway, Canton, MI, 48188. Only in the event of inclement weather, this community celebration will be held in the Summit on the Park’s gymnasium, located at 46000 Summit Parkway, with entry limited to the first 400 participants.
Residents and well-wishers are invited to join in the celebration of Allison Schmitt’s two 2016 Summer Olympic medal wins during this free community event. Hosted by Kimberly Gill, WDIV News Anchor/Reporter and WJR's Paul W. Smith, this Canton community celebration will feature a special presentation by Canton Supervisor Phil LaJoy.
Come and congratulate Olympian Allison Schmitt during this special meet and greet. Rally participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for outdoor seating. Commemorative miniature flags will also be handed out during the rally, while supplies last.
Fresh from the official closing ceremony, Schmitt will be spending some time in Canton, MI with her family. This former Canton High School graduate competed in her third Olympic Games, which were held in Rio, Brazil, from August 5 – 21, 2016. Officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, these competitions featured more than 10,500 world-class athletes from around the globe taking part in over 300 events.
Considered one of the best middle distance swimmers in the country, Schmitt is a member of Team USA for the third time, medaling in two swimming events at this year’s Summer Olympics, where she was one of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team captains. Schmitt’s first medal of the 2016 Olympics was the silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Next, Schmitt took home the gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay. Schmitt previously won 3 gold medals, 1 silver medal and 1 bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics, as well as 1 bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
26-year-old Schmitt was born in Pittsburgh and spent her youth with her parents Ralph and Gail Schmitt and her siblings in Canton, MI. Schmitt graduated from Canton High School in 2008 and attended the University of Georgia, where she also had a successful NCAA swimming career.
For additional information on this special community celebration, visit www.cantonfun.org or call 734/394-5460.