The moment when I first touched my Olympic Torch was just the beginning of a night I would never forget.

Emotion filled the relay preparation room early when one torchbearer showed his great generosity.  One local torchbearer, Justin, couldn’t afford to keep his torch after the run, so another torchbearer, Otto Kamenzin from Australia, helped Justin purchase the torch and keep the memory alive long after today.  What a great gift!  As soon as the briefing began, I started realizing that this is it!  The moment I’ve been waiting for has finally come.  Even our torchbearer manager, who had done the same orientation so many times, got a little emotional, but who wouldn’t?  Being able to see Canadians from across the country unite together for the torch relay has to be really special.

From the second we stepped out of City Hall, the people of Prince Rupert began to show their excitement for this world-class event.  As we walked through the crowd, I could feel that all eyes were focused on our beautiful torches and that they were all anxious to see the Flame coming to town.

Once we boarded the shuttle, celebration among our torchbearers began.  We all shared our stories and our excitement for the moment to come.  The inside of the shuttle was decorated fabulously with an Olympic-theme.  After stepping out of the vehicle among cheers, I was then greeted by Coca-Cola’s “Happy Truck” and RBC’s truck.  Their enthusiasm and warm hugs made me a lot less nervous for what’s about to come.

At 5:50 PM, February 1, 2010, at the intersection of 2nd Ave. and 2nd St. in Prince Rupert, B.C. Canada, the torch in my hand was lit by another Vancouverite, Kelly-Ruth Mercier, with the Olympic Flame!

At the same time, my rapid-beating heart was also lit!  For a moment, it was just me and the Flame.  It felt like I was breathing with the Flame as one; the world was so quiet I could hear the gas burning.  The Flame was bright – the brightest thing I have ever looked up upon.

Then I started running with the Flame and doing the things I had planed – a 360 spin in the air.  It was not easy to do while holding a burning torch, but I think it went well because both my mom and Kelly said them loved it.  Once I reached 3rd St., the crowd that was lining up along the road started cheering, loudly!  I was so pumped so I did another spin, in the reverse direction.

Gradually, the weight of the torch started forcing me to switch hands from now and then, but I would never lower the torch, not a bit, because the Olympic Flame truly deserves to be always up high.

Being able to run in the middle of a busy street, with four policemen guarding you and the Flame close-by, more police in front and behind, and even more people cheering for you is really something special!  All the eyes were on me and the Flame that has traveled across Canada and united Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

In the final meters to the finish line, I celebrated this greatest run in my life by posing the iconic “Lightning Bolt” pose by the fastest man on Earth, a great Olympian, Usain Bolt.  Apparently, the crowd, including the RCMP, loved it!  So I did another one before holding the torch up high and passing on the Olympic Flame, which would continue its journey to Vancouver in the next 11 days through the hands of many more torchbearers.

As advised by another UBC torchbearer, Brian Le, I spent the next 10 seconds really focusing and staring at the bright Flame, while it was getting dimmer and dimmer and finally extinguished by an officer.

After I got into the torchbearer bus, I followed a tradition of this Relay by leaving a burnt mark on the ceiling of the shuttle with my hot torch.  When I sat down, my whole body was shaking.  It was an indescribable feeling, and all I could say was “Wow”!

Then, I signed the torchbearer book, and here are the words I remember I wrote down:

“What a dream that has come true.

Amazing feeling.  It is unreal.

This is [truely] an Olympic Moment.

I will never forget this evening.”

The Olympic night wasn’t over by then, not even close.  If carrying the flame brought excitement, then meeting the people of Prince Rupert brought joy. Everyone, from toddlers to the elderly, all come to me asking for a photo or a chance to hold the torch.  I happily accepted everyone’s request and smiled to hundreds of cameras – each captured an Olympic moment of their own.