Four-time Olympic medallist Penny Oleksiak could score Drake tickets after all
It appears the '6ix God' has answered Penny Oleksiak’s prayers.
Canada’s newest Olympic superstar has been busy collecting all kinds of hardware at the pool, including gold on Thursday night in the women’s 100-metre freestyle at the 2016 Olympic Games.
But one thing the 16-year-old swimming phenom couldn’t get her hands on was a pair of coveted Drake concert tickets.
While in Rio, Oleksiak and her teammate and bronze medal winner Kylie Masse tried to buy tickets to Drake’s October concert in Toronto, but were unsuccessful in their attempt.
So @Kjmasse and I tried to buy @Drake tickets to celebrate.. Basically sold out🙃 #ugh #maybenexttime pic.twitter.com/7EoyTo9dBL
— Penny Oleksiak (@OleksiakPenny) August 10, 2016
That was, of course, before Oleksiak became the most decorated Canadian Olympian at a Summer Games with four medals (and potentially more to come).
By Friday morning, it looked as if Oleksiak would score those tickets after all. Four Olympic medals in, she's a bona fide Toronto superstar herself and had many people offering her tickets to the Toronto rapper’s upcoming show, including his own people, tweeted Globe and Mail reporter Jeff Gray. “I am told @Drake's people will ensure gold-medallist @OleksiakPenny gets tickets to Toronto show in fall”
The Globe and Mail went on to report that a source close to the Toronto rapper said he would ensure that the 16-year-old swimmer received tickets to his fall concert.
Along with Drake’s inner circle, the entertainment company LiveNation and Toronto radio station 93.5 The Move also said they would hook the young swimmer up with tickets.
Congrats @OleksiakPenny! Heard you want @Drake tickets? Happy to sort you out for his Oct shows! #Rio2016 @TeamCanada 🇨🇦🏅🙌🏽
— Live Nation Ontario (@LiveNationON) August 12, 2016
Hey @OleksiakPenny! We got your @Drake tickets!!! 🏅🇨🇦🙏🏾 - @PeterKash pic.twitter.com/QPGnoLH8qu
— 93-5 The Move (@935TheMoveTO) August 12, 2016
Although as TSN's Rick Westhead pointed out on Twitter, accepting free concert tickets could be in violation of the NCAA's eligibility rules, if the 16-year-old were to decide to go the U.S. college route. Westhead talked to Matt Mitten, the director of the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University Law School, who said, "The NCAA has stringent restrictions on the receipt of extra benefits or preferential treatment based on one's athletic ability or fame, which apply to even future NCAA athletes."
Why Penny Oleksiak should be cautious about accepting free Drake concert tickets. cc @jeffreybgray pic.twitter.com/oFSv9gIx5N
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) August 12, 2016
However, Oleksiak responded to Yahoo Sports Canada's tweet about this story, saying that she's, "Yet to accept anything so far but feeling so blessed!"
Yet to accept anything so far but feeling so blessed! #ohcanada https://t.co/V2tELKV5Sr
— Penny Oleksiak (@OleksiakPenny) August 12, 2016