An Edmonton police officer coached the Canadian National Women’s soccer team to victory at the Special Olympics in Berlin, Germany.

Constable Amanda Trenchard cheered from the sidelines when Canada beat India two to one to bring home the bronze medal.

Trenchard said this was the first time Canada fielded a women’s only soccer team at the international event.

“It was kind of almost history making, and to win the medal, too, was pretty cool.”

Trenchard, a Patrol constable in Northeast Branch, began volunteering with Special Olympics over 20 years ago. She said working with the athletes gives her a different perspective on life. “They don’t look at the challenges.  They look at their abilities and what they can do.”

Training for the games started last October. The players, who came from across the country, attended two in-person training camps held in British Columbia and Ontario. Due to the distances involved, a lot of the training and team building happened online, with local coaches working with players to hone their skills and provide support.

One of the local players Trenchard coached was 39-year-old Jenny Murray, daughter of Constable Dan Murray. Jenny has been playing soccer for 12 years.  In preparation for the Berlin games, Jenny trained six days a week.

“I like playing and competing because it keeps me active.  I get to see my friends, and it’s also a bonus to experience other places,” Jenny said.

“It was amazing how they jelled together as a team after only playing together twice before going to Germany,” Jenny’s mother, Gunda, said. “They were wonderful representatives for Canada, showing great skills and sportsmanship.”

Dan Murray said he extremely proud of what his daughter and Team Canada accomplished given the level of world-class competition. “We know how hard these women worked. Thanks to the dedication of Amanda, the team had fun on and off the field.  Amanda wanted to make sure they not only played well but were able to see and experience Germany.”

Trenchard said she will cherish the memories of how her players grew as people, and how they handled the experience of playing in the Special Olympics.

“They do amazing things given the opportunity, which is what the games are all about.”