[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6774-S6775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO ELLE PURRIER ST. PIERRE

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, it was with great pride that Americans 
across the country tuned in this summer for the return of the Olympic 
Games. I want to take a moment to celebrate the achievements of one 
Vermonter who traveled to Tokyo, Japan, to represent our Nation--and 
our State--in these celebrated games. Elle Purrier St. Pierre 
represented the United States in the 1500-meter run at the 2020 Olympic 
Games. This was Elle's first turn as an Olympian, and she certainly 
made her mark, qualifying for the final in the 1500-meter, in which she 
crossed the line in 10th place.
  Elle is a Vermonter in the truest sense of the word. She grew up 
working on her family's dairy farm in Montgomery Center, a town of less 
than 800 people along the Canadian border. During her freshman year of 
high school, she stumbled onto the Richford High School track team, 
initially skeptical of long-distance running. Nonetheless, her raw 
talent and grit quickly became clear, and she went on to become one of 
the most decorated high school runners in State history.
  In college, she ran for the University of New Hampshire, where she 
garnered 11 NCAA Division One All-American titles and a championship 
victory in the indoor mile her senior year. Upon graduation in 2018, 
Elle signed with New Balance to run professionally. Although she has 
only run professionally for 3 years, she has set new national records 
in the indoor 1-mile and 2-mile distances.
  In June, Elle won the 1500-meter at the U.S. Olympic Trials, breaking 
the Olympic Trial record and securing her spot on the U.S. Olympic team 
in the process. Elle sailed through the qualifying rounds of the 1500, 
made it through to the finals where she competed against the strongest 
and fastest runners in the world. While her friends and family could 
not join her in Tokyo, they and so many others gathered in the Richford 
High School cafeteria in the early hours of the morning to watch each 
of her races live.
  Even as her success as a professional runner has taken her across the 
globe, her Vermont roots remain strong. Elle still considers Montgomery 
Center her home, where she lives with her husband, Jamie, who is also a 
dairy farmer. On September 25, Elle was celebrated at a welcome home 
parade through the town of Richford. Throngs of fans cheered her on as 
she took her well-deserved victory lap.
  It is hard to overstate how proud we Vermonters are of Elle. She is 
only the second Vermonter to compete in the Olympics for track and 
field. At only 26, I am sure we will see more from Elle in the future. 
I am very excited how Elle continues to perform in the years to come.
  I ask unanimous consent that the article ``Welcome Home, Elle! 
Richford Community Hosts Parade in Honor of Home-Town Olympian Elle 
Purrier St. Pierre,'' published in the St. Albans Messenger, be printed 
in the Record.

  Welcome Home Elle! Richford Community Hosts Parade in Honor of Home-
                 Town Olympian Elle Purrier St. Pierre

                          (By Ruthie LaRoche)

       On Saturday, Sept. 25, Elle Purrier St. Pierre walked 
     beneath the American Flag, hoisted high on the Richford 
     Volunteer Fire Department's ladder truck as part of a Welcome 
     Home parade held in her honor.
       This August, Purrier St. Pierre represented the United 
     States of America, racing in the women's 1500 meter at the 
     2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
       Purrier St. Pierre walked just steps behind a white and red 
     heifer draped in the Stars and Stripes, the community she 
     represented with pride, cheering and waving as she passed.
       A little while later, Purrier St. Pierre stood on a podium, 
     the crowd of parade-goers now encircling her, listening in 
     rapt attention as she spoke of her journey to the Olympic 
     stage.
       Many knew her story well, but I'm sure there were portions 
     very few knew, and it was the unknown story that made the 
     community support so much more special.
       ``Representing the United States of America on the Olympic 
     and world stage has been one of the highest honors of my life 
     so far,'' said Purrier St. Pierre.
       ``Competing at the Olympics is the epitome of sports, and 
     wearing those three letters (USA) across my chest was one of 
     the best feelings I've ever had.''


Purrier St. Pierre spoke of her time in Tokyo and the thoughts of home 
               that buoyed her up from half a world away

       ``These Olympic Games were different than most, but they 
     were still astounding and historic. I tried to embrace the 
     challenges brought on by the pandemic but found myself 
     feeling very isolated throughout the experience,'' said 
     Purrier St. Pierre.
       ``I spent many days alone since no friends or family 
     members were allowed to travel to Tokyo. I was trying to 
     mentally and physically prepare to compete against runners 
     who were the best in the world.''


  Purrier St. Pierre was preparing to compete in the most significant 
                           race of her career

       ``I knew I had prepared well for many years, but I'd be 
     lying if I didn't say it wasn't extremely daunting. Something 
     that helped me regain my courage was remembering the great 
     country, state, and community I was representing,'' said 
     Purrier St. Pierre.
       ``I was thousands of miles away, but I felt the love from 
     this place and all of you. That love and support helped me 
     persevere through the games.''


 On the team bus in Tokyo, Purrier St. Pierre received a message from 
                  home that brought tears to her eyes

       ``I was on my way to the track to make my Olympic debut; I 
     opened my phone and saw a

[[Page S6775]]

     picture of the American flag hanging from the Richford fire 
     truck high above Main Street, and I immediately began to 
     cry,'' said Purrier St. Pierre.
       ``I cannot begin to explain how much your compassion and 
     support through this experience has meant to me.''
       As she took the track, Purrier St. Pierre thought of the 
     community behind her.
       ``I was racing for way more than myself; I was racing for 
     all the people that got me there and hoping to inspire the 
     next young generation in this great community,'' said Purrier 
     St. Pierre.
       ``I was humbled to see the Franklin County community come 
     together to support one of their own; I could read your 
     messages, see your signs, and watch in awe as you all showed 
     up to the Richford High School gym to cheer me on.''

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