Chanda Gunn is a Hockey Star to Some, but a Role Model to Many

Olympic bronze medalist Chanda Gunn, like every young sportsman, had her share of role models while growing up. Not surprisingly they included athletes, such as swimmer Janet Evans, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, and hockey player Cammi Granato, another Olympic gold medalist.

But her third – and possibly most beloved – role model, if he can be called that, was none other than America’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. Why? Because she respected his fortitude and ideals.

“I’ve always loved Abraham Lincoln. I still do,” Gunn said with a laugh. “Actually, I went to the Lincoln Memorial this morning at 5 a.m. to watch the sunrise. I guess it’s hard to say he was my role model, though, because he wasn’t alive during my childhood, but I’ve always loved his character and respected what he stood for.”

And perhaps that’s why Gunn, who’s lived most of her life with epilepsy, so perfectly relates and appeals to the thousands of kids who live with the condition. Gunn, like Lincoln, portrays an inner-strength and lives by a set of ethics that kids with epilepsy – and their parents – find alluring.

“Even when I was young, and I have no idea if this was taught to me or what, but character, sportsmanship and morals have always been extremely important to me,” Gunn said. “I think that, to me, Abraham Lincoln embodied a lot of what I believe in. I absolutely love him.”

Gunn’s disclosure of Lincoln being one of her role models was appropriately timed, too, as she confessed to this while sitting in Washington, D.C., as a guest of honor for the Epilepsy Foundation’s 2006 Public Policy Institute/Kids Speak Up! event.

“I was so excited to come to this,” Gunn said of the Public Policy Institute. “I’ve been asked to do a couple of things lately, like speak at events and such. But kids are my absolute favorite. I really feel like they understand me, and I’m much more comfortable around them than I am around adults sometimes.”

Gunn wasn’t joking when she said that either. In fact, as she was being interviewed for this article, parents regularly approached her to thank her for her time and advocacy efforts, as well as tell her she’s “a hero in our house.” And without missing a beat, she would say, “Oh, you’re Alyssa’s mom! She’s a beautiful girl!”

Also, autograph-seeking kids would routinely run up to her and ask if she’d sign the backs of their hands. Of course, she’s oblige, but not without first jokingly asking, “Are you sure your mom’s not going to kill me for this, Santi? How about you, Sean?”

In a field of nearly 80 kids, Gunn had actually memorized almost all of their names in less than an hour.

“I definitely want kids of my own someday, but first I have to find a husband,” Gunn joked. “Actually, though, I’m looking into teaching right now. I’m going to play hockey again next year and be a full-time athlete, but then I’m looking into becoming a full-time teacher and a part-time athlete/coach.”

And not surprisingly, at what level does Gunn plan on coaching? Of course, little kids.

“I already coach kids in hockey, and when I get to go out there and teach them, I get to just go out there and play and have fun. And that’s all they want to do – play and have fun,” Gunn said. “It’s the way most kids are, I think. Regardless of who they are, where they are, or whether or not they have epilepsy, they just want your approval and attention. That’s really easy for me to give them to make them happy. I just think they’re so cool.”

While growing up as a child with epilepsy herself, Gunn admits to having experienced her share of challenges. Living with seizures, she said, is never easy for any kid. They, in fact, ended her swimming career at a young age and they also sometimes prevented her from doing certain activities with her small contingent of friends. But not once did she look down upon herself.

“When you’re a kid, you’re just a kid. I don’t think they really understand fully what’s happening with them. They just live their lives and do what kids do,” Gunn said. “And I think that how it was for me, too. I think that when I wasn’t able to swim anymore, sure, it was difficult. But, at the same time, it opened the door for me to play hockey, which I absolutely love.

“So, first and foremost,” Gunn continued, “I think people should realize that kids with epilepsy – or anybody with epilepsy for that matter – are still just people.”

That’s the message Gunn relayed to the rooms full of kids and parents who showed up to hear her talk. She told them that regardless of their epilepsy, they are still more than capable of success and reaching their dreams. She used her Olympic experience as an example.

“My advice to parents of kids with epilepsy is to let their kids take as much responsibility for themselves as they can,” Gunn said. “The more they are able to do, and the more you let them do, the less they’re going to view epilepsy as a handicap or something that inhibits them. By letting them play soccer, for example, instead of worrying about the stigma they might endure from the other kids, that’s how they’re going to learn they’re stronger because of their condition.

“Now, obviously you can’t tell a kid to take responsibility, but you can tell them that they ‘can,’” Gunn added. “I firmly believe that they can be independent, they can do it, they can learn to take care of themselves and they can do as much as they want to.”