West Bloomfield Girl Headed to Olympics Thanks to McDonald's Contest

Sarah and Kevin Hirsch of West Bloomfield kept a big secret from their daughter Elena for the past month, and today, Elena finally got the news: She's going to the Summer Olympics. 

Elena is one of 10 kids from the U.S. who will be traveling to London as finalists in the McDonald's Global Champions of Play program. She won the Happy Meal Chefs contest by entering a video about the family's meal times and filling out a questionnaire.

Family and friends surprised Elena at McDonald's on Orchard Lake south of 14 Mile in Farmington Hills. Sarah Hirsch said she found out about the contest online and when she saw it was open to 8-10 years olds, told Elena about it.

"Who wouldn't want to win a trip to the Olympics?" Sarah Hirsch said. 

The family worked together on the video, which shows Elena and her mom in the kitchen cooking up a meal that a panel of Olympic judges then ranks. Even Elena's younger brother Jacob, 7, got into the act. 

"I was just amazed," she said. "I thought I might have had a little chance of winning, because I thought my video was really good, but I never thought I'd actually win and go to the Olympics, because that's a once in a lifetime experience."

Elena said making the video was "so much fun. I got to help cook the meal, and I got to help write the script."

Contest entries were judged by panel of experts specializing in food, nutrition and physical activity including five-time U.S. Olympic Swimmer and Global Champions of Play Ambassador Dara Torres.

“After watching Elena’s video entry, I was very impressed by how her whole family makes cooking nutritious meals fun,” said Torres. “I was also interested to read about Elena’s interest in the swimming competitions at the Olympics, a sport I am personally involved in.”

Ron Moten, who has owned the Orchard Lake McDonald's since it was built in 1994, said he was excited to see a local winner in the national contest. 

"We're just very happy that someone from this area was selected as a winner in a national contest," he said. "It makes us very, very proud that they took the time to do the video in the first place."

Sarah Hirsch said the prize package includes tickets and accommodations for two, but they plan to all go to London. She said Elena will be treated to tickets for swimming and volleyball events, along with parties and other activities around the McDonald's contest. 

For more information about the Happy Meal Chefs contest, visit https://
happymealchefs.mcdonalds.com.