With files from Discover Moose Jaw

A pair of Moose Jaw born athletes will be taking part in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Speedskater Graeme Fish, along with four man bobsled participant Ben Coakwell will be representing Canada from Feb. 4 to 20. 

Some west central connections can be made to the upcoming Canada bobsled team outside of Coakwell, with current CFL player from the area Kayden Johnson on track to represent in 2026, and one of the other Canadian bobsleigh teammates and another former football player in Jay Dearborn making this years team as well.

Looking at Coakwell's background, he too played football. After high school Coakwell played running back with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, where he was then recruited to compete with Bobsled Canada. He credits a former football coach in Lonny Holmes as a big influence on him during his time in Moose Jaw, as the Saskatchewan born athlete enters his third Olympic games.

Coakwell is listed as the brakeman for Justin Kripps’ four-man bobsled team. Coakwell finished 24th in the 2014 Sochi Olympics alongside Kripps, and 12th in the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018 with Nick Poloniato’s team. 

During the World Cup this season, Coakwell has a silver and two bronze medals as well as a fifth-place finish. 

Coakwell and Team Kripps third overall in the 2020 World Cup standing in both the two-man and four-man events.