Island Star Athlete to meet Star Couple

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Heather Moyse was excited to learn that she will be meeting the Royal Newlyweds William and Kate in Dalvay during their visit on July 4^th.

As the Duke and Duchess complete their dragon boat race across the Dalvay lake on competing teams, they will be greeted at the end by the Island native and Olympic gold medalist Moyse who will present the winner with an award.

Moyse said she felt a wealth of emotions from being asked to participate.

“I feel excited, honoured and privileged. I think it’s going to be a really great experience.”

Though she was asked of her availability about four weeks ago, Moyse only officially found out Tuesday night that she would be taking part.

“Well officially I didn’t find out until (Tuesday) night, because my mom didn’t tell me until then,” she said. “I said, Mom you mean it’s good? It’s on? And she said, oh yes, did I not tell you?”

It was hard for Moyse to describe the feeling she had after getting the confirmation from her mother.

“How do you describe something like that? I just thought, wow, this is pretty cool, this is the chance of a lifetime,” she said. “I’ve always been interested to meet people or celebrities on a public basis to see what they’re really like when the spotlights not on them.”

Moyse admitted her and a friend watched the Royal wedding on their personal video recorder instead of watching it live but still had a favourite moment from the event.

“I think when Prince William looked over and Kate looked super nervous when she first got to the very front of the church and he just looked down and just told her she looked beautiful and then made a joke and they started laughing,” she said. “I thought that was a really special moment.”

She said that if she got the chance to ask a question to the couple she would just like to know what their like out of the spotlight.

“That’s probably not an answer he or she would just readily tell anyone,” she said. “I think that people carry themselves well and usually that reflects well what they’re like behind closed door. But I mean what is there favourite thing to do when nobody’s around?”