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Olympic athletes return to Fraser Valley Elementary to inspire students

Three Grand County Olympians were educated in these halls

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Morgan Colin
For Sky-Hi News
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Fraser Elementary School Principal James Chamberlin poses with alumni Olympians Svea Irving and Jackson Harvey on March 5 in front of the school. The athletes participated in an assembly with the students.
Morgan Colin/For Sky-Hi News

Three Grand County athletes have accomplished a rare feat this year, becoming a trio from the same elementary school to reach the Olympic stage together. Jackson Harvey, Svea Irving, and Birk Irving — all former students of Fraser Valley Elementary — represented their hometown at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, marking a milestone the school believes has never happened before. 

On Thursday, hometown heroes Svea Irving and Harvey returned to their former school to surprise students during a school‑wide assembly. Their arrival sparked cheers and chants of “U.S.A.” as students realized who had walked into the gym. Although Birk Irving could not attend in person, he joined the celebration through a prerecorded video, answering questions submitted by the student council. 

Each athlete brought a unique Olympic story. Svea and Birk competed for the United States in the freestyle halfpipe, while Jackson Harvey represented Australia, where he holds dual citizenship through his mother, in moguls and dual moguls. 

During the assembly, Principal James Chamberlin shared questions written by students. When asked about his favorite Olympic moment, Jackson described standing at the top of the course on a “beautiful day with a huge crowd,” hearing his name announced as fans from around the world cheered.

Svea answered a question about balancing training and school, explaining that she prioritizes schoolwork so she can “get it out of the way and then go have fun and train.” 

Olympic athletes Svea Irving and Jackson Harvey met with students from Fraser Valley Elementary of March 5. Both athletes attended the school in their younger years.
Morgan Colin/For Sky-Hi News

Australian Olympic freestyle skier Emma Bosco also attended the presentation where she was honored with a SOAR award recognizing her achievements both on and off the slopes. The acronym — which stands safety, ownership, attitude and respect — is used by the school to encourage positive behavior throughout the year.

Fourth‑grade teacher Patty Finnigan explained that the visit came about after a classroom photo went viral on social media. The picture showed students pausing their lessons to watch Svea compete live. A moment that was then shared widely and even caught the attention of the Today show. 

Before leaving, Svea stopped by a second‑grade classroom and asked the students, “Who here is going to be in the Olympics?” Every hand shot into the air as the kids shouted “Me!” It was a special moment that showed just how inspiring the visit had been. The school is confident future champions may rise from those very same classrooms, one more generational down the line.

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