Grade 8 RSS student Lachlan Hicks has been selected as the official torchbearer by the Revelstoke Torch Relay committee.

Hicks said he experienced a range of emotions when he heard the news. “I was so amazed. I never thought they would ask me, and then ... I am going to be so proud to do it. I am really excited,” he said.

Hicks will anchor the final leg of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay leading down Mackenzie Ave. in Revelstoke, then mount the stage in Grizzly Plaza and light the ceremonial cauldron.

Hicks says news of his selection travelled quickly. “It’s so great,” he said. “Everybody is congratulating me and stuff. It’s a big thing.” Hicks says he’s a big winter Olympics fan and watches the skiing, of course, as well as speed skating.

The announcement was made at the City of Revelstoke council meeting on Tuesday. Revelstoke Olympic Torch relay committee member Alan Mason invited Lynne Welock of torch relay sponsor RBC Revelstoke to make the official announcement.

Welock said it had been a rigourous process to arrive at the official torchbearer. The committee had focused in on two groups. The first was Revelstoke residents who had represented Canada at the Olympics. The second group was young student athletes striving to represent Canada in the future.

Lachlan Hicks is in his first year at RSS, and is no stranger to readers of the Times Review, having been featured several times for his feats on the ski circuit. This past season Hicks won the title of overall champion for Western Canada in the K1 division. Hicks also helped Team Canada win North America’s only international children’s ski race in April at the Whistler Cup.

Welock said consideration was also given to Hicks’ involvement in sport in general, including participation is soccer, volleyball and basketball, including some officiating and coaching.

Mayor David Raven said that he couldn’t think of a better representative for Revelstoke, congratulating Hicks and his parents as well.

Many Revelstokians will participate as torchbearers on the highways around the city, but those selections were not made by the local committee.

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay arrives in Revelstoke on January 26, 2010. Ceremonies run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.