This Catholic school network produced nine Rio Olympians

Courtesy of Sacred Heart Schools, CNA copy

Katie Ledecky, Lia Neal, and Anabelle Smith are some names you might hear on television if you are watching the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this year. These Olympians have all won medals in the 2016 games, but they are also united by another common factor: their Catholic education.

Sacred Heart Schools, founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, boasts of a network of more than 145 Catholic schools across the globe that have been teaching for more than 200 years. These schools are also responsible for sending nine alumnae to Rio, either competing or helping coach or manage.

 “Our athletes recognize that their gifts come from God and are not to be wasted,” the school's communications director Donna Heckler said. They are taught to take personal responsibility for themselves while being self-disciplined in their efforts.”

 After the first two days of competition, the Sacred Heart Olympians won four medals in Rio. Their alumnae are from four different countries, and include Katie Ledecky, Lia Neal, Anabelle Smith, K.K. Clark, Mary Joe Fernandez, Gaby Lopez, Gabi Nance, Erin Rafuse and Denise Sheldon.

So, what's their secret to producing all-stars?

While Heckler noted that they have no secret to producing Olympians, she did say that the school “does have a secret to producing amazing people. That secret is seen in the five Goals and Criteria of the Sacred Heart Schools that bind the schools together.”

According to Heckler, the network of Sacred Heart schools focuses on instilling five main goals in their students: a personal relationship with God, respect for intellectual values, social awareness and action, community building and personal growth.

“The Goals and Criteria, which are Sacred Heart educational principles, are foundational to this year's dedicated Sacred Heart Olympians,” the schools press release said.
The students who attend Sacred Heart schools are fostered in self-discipline, accountability and responsible decision-making—all of which cater to producing a disciplined student and athlete.

 “Students are taught to open themselves up to the transforming power of the Spirit of God and to explore their individual relationships to God, to self, to others and to all creation,” Heckler said.

 The Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart run the network of Sacred Heart schools. Although each individual school has its own history and character, they are all rooted in St. Madeleine Sophie Barat's mission of challenging every student to be their “most authentic selves.”

The Sisters love to see their students excel and are among the Sacred Heart Olympians biggest fans.
 
“The Sisters love their students and see their heart in all they do,” Heckler said, adding that the sisters have the schedules of all of the Sacred Heart athletes and follow each of their events closely.  

Although the Sacred Heart students hold a special place in the sisters’ hearts, Heckler did say that the sisters pray for all of the athletes competing in Rio.

While the Sacred Heart Olympians are making a big splash in the Rio games this year, Heckler noted that all of their alumnae are bringing Catholic values to various outlets in the world.

“While today we are all celebrating the Olympic athletes, Sacred Heart alumni are making a difference throughout the world: in business, in journalism, in music, in education, in medicine, in justice and peace, in the arts, in service,” Heckler said. With a strong faith, commitment to others and value of community, Sacred Heart students bring these values to the world everyday.”