Proud Warriors skate for Team Canada

When Andrew Poje and Kaitlyn Weaver first put on their Team Canada jackets, the reality of what they were about to do sunk in.

“That was the aha moment,” said Poje's father, Bill. “That was a tear jerking moment.”

The University of Waterloo students — Poje is an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Science and Weaver is working towards an undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Arts — recently earned a spot on the Olympic ice dancing team after placing second at Canada's 2014 Canadian Tire Skating Championship.

Photo credit: Sven Bocker

The skating duo joined forces in 2006 after each found themselves without partners. Weaver, who was born in Houston, had been competing for the U.S., but received her Canadian citizenship at a ceremony in Kitchener in 2009.

Since then, the skaters have been focused on achieving their Olympic dream.

Bill Poje says his son and Weaver are “flying high” with excitement as they prepare to compete later this month.

“Watching Kaitlyn and Andrew walk into the stadium for the opening ceremonies will be one of my greatest memories,” Bill says. “A dream sought, relentless hard work, heartaches, countless hardships on the body (and) now a dream realized.”

Bill and his wife Tanja, are both University of Waterloo alumni. When Poje and Weaver skate, Bill says, it will not only be for themselves, but for the Waterloo community as well.

“He enjoys the spirt of Waterloo,” Bill says of his son. “It's his home campus.”

Poje and Weaver are currently in Sochi, Russia training and preparing for their short program routine, scheduled to take place on Feb. 16 and for their free skate routine, scheduled for Feb. 17.

The family welcomes anyone who would like to celebrate to come and watch Poje and Weaver's free dance competition on the big screen at Moose Winooski's in Kitchener on February 17 at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Watching the event itself will be intense, but having your own child out there will be such a miraculous achievement,” Bill says. “I'm certain that the flood gates will open wide by many of our friends and family. The sense of joy and pride in their accomplishment certainly will be an emotional peak.”