Chatham-Kent’s Joshua Andari, Making CK Proud

Chatham-Kent sends athletes across Ontario, Canada, and the globe each year to compete athletically.

Sponsored by baCK to Chatham-Kent, we’ll be featuring local athletes who have left Chatham-Kent, and are proudly representing our community. We hope many of these athletic ambassadors for our community someday come baCK to call Chatham-Kent home.

This week, we feature Chatham’s Joshua Andari, who recently won a Junior National Ice Dance title for Team Poland with his partner Olivia Oliver. The pair currently live and train in Barrie.

Here are Josh’s responses to our baCK to Chatham-Kent athletes interview:

1. Can you describe what support you’ve felt from your hometown/ Chatham-Kent while you’ve been away?

I have received huge amounts of support from all around the community. I am fortunate to have family and friends that support my passion for sport. I see comments on Facebook cheering me on and I am so grateful to have people interested. I board up in Barrie to train but Chatham is my home.

2. What do you enjoy about coming home to visit?

I try and come home most weekends to see my family . My parents are my biggest supporters and I couldn’t be where I am today without them.

3. What advice would you give to young athletes baCK home in Chatham-Kent?

What I would say to young athletes in Chatham is to follow their passion. If you are really passionate about something, set goals and try your hardest to make it happen. I started boarding away from home at 16 and it was hard being away from my parents. But their support and my passion for what I was doing drove me to work as hard as I could.

I am so grateful to the people of Chatham for continuously showing showing me support. Chatham will always be my home at heart no matter where I am.