Charleston Southern freshman cross country student-athlete Shaun Bisson will represent Canada as one of the torch bearers for the 2010 Winter Olympics torch relay.

The Sarnia, Ontario, native will be part of the ceremonial torch relay as the flame goes 27,961 miles across Canada, ending in Vancouver, British Columbia, for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. On December 22, Bisson will carry the single flame for a 400-meter stretch in nearby Ridgetown, Ontario.

“I’m sure it’s every athlete’s goal to win a major championship or compete in the Olympics,” said Bisson. “For me growing up it was hockey; I wanted to compete internationally for Team Canada. 

“While I may never get to represent Canada for the Olympics, this is at least one step closer to the Games. I may not have the Olympic rings behind me like the athletes do, but it’s still a part of me representing my hometown, representing my country as a torch bearer, and it is a real honor.”

Even though it was cross country that brought Bisson to Charleston Southern, it was hockey that got him involved in the relay. While working at a hockey arena, Bisson entered a corporate sponsor’s essay contest about improving community relations. The winners were selected to participate in the torch relay.

Bisson, who was recruited by a number of Big South schools, incorporated the conference’s motto of “Developing Leaders Through Athletics” into his essay.

“I wrote about how I planned to lead by example when I got to the states,” said Bisson, who was a major part of the Charleston Southern cross country team’s improvement this year, finishing second on the team in every race. “I want to show all of the kids who might want to become an athlete how to excel athletically and academically.”

More than 10,000 applications came from his hometown alone, but in September, Bisson got word that he had been selected.

Although the torch bearer uniforms are standard, Bisson plans to honor his school with a CSU logo on the shoes he will wear during his stretch of the relay.

The opening ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics will occur February 12.