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Q: Tell us a bit about your sport and how you got involved in it:
A: I started Bobsleigh when I was 17. A friend I used to ski race with told me about it, and she thought I would be amazing. When I realized that my goal of winning an Olympic gold medal in ski racing wasn't realistic, I decided to give bobsleigh a try. I had no idea what it was about; all I knew was what I had watched from the movie "Cool Runnings." I tried out at a "Talent I.D. Camp" where you do a series of physical tests, and after that camp I was invited to a National Team Camp. I have been on the National and Olympic Team since then.
Q: How long have you been competing in your sport for?
A: I have been involved in bobsleigh for the past five years. I was a brakeman for three of those years and I've been a pilot for the past two years.
Q: When did you realize you wanted to be an Olympic athlete?
A: I realized that I wanted to be an Olympic athlete when I was nine years old. I was sitting on the couch with my family watching the '92 Summer Olympics, and a family friend was competing. As I watched Mark Tewksbury win a gold medal in the men's backstroke, the look on his face sold it to me. I knew that day, right then and there, I wanted that feeling, and that's what I'm working towards to this day.
Q: What are the keys to your success?
A: I work hard, I set reasonable goals, and I have people that believe in me pushing me every step of the way.
Q: What is the best result you have achieved thus far?
A: My best result I have achieved so far has been a 3rd place finish on the World Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y, U.S.A., with my brakeman Shelley-Ann Brown. I am also proud of my 5th place finish at the World Championships this year in Germany, as well as my overall 5th place ranking on the World Cup circuit this year.
Q: What are your goals for the 2010 Olympics?
A: My goal for the Olympics is to finish the race knowing that I have put together my best race possible. If I can have the fastest start, and as a pilot I know I drove my best, then I expect nothing less than a medal.
Q: What are your main sources of motivation?
A: My main sources of motivation are me and “my team” (the people who believe in me). I have wanted to be an Olympic gold medalist since I was nine. That goal is within reach and because of that, I will put everything I have into it. I have tons of support and back-up and those people keep me going through the hard times, when I might second guess myself, so I do this for me and the people that believe in me.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself (i.e. family, education, hobbies etc.)
A: I have two unbelievable younger sisters. I couldn’t have asked for any better parents and I have a husband that is amazing. I was born and raised in Calgary and love country music. I grew up ski racing and playing sports my whole life. I graduated high school from the National Sport School in 2003, and plan on attending post-secondary after I've achieved my sporting career. I like to watch movies and just hang out for fun, because usually I'm too tired to do anything else. I got married in April of 2007, to a man that competed in the 2006 Olympics for Great Britain in Bobsleigh, and now is a brakeman on the Canadian National Bobsleigh Team.
Q: What is one thing about you that most people don't know about?
A: I laugh in my sleep (or at least that's what my husband tells me.)
Q: How does it feel to represent your country?
A: There's no greater feeling. Walking out into a stadium full of people cheering for you, because you're the best in your country at what you do, is an amazing, overwhelming experience.
Q: What does it mean to you to be accepted into Shaw's sponsorship program?
A: It means that I am able to focus on me and how I can do my very best for my country. It means that there are people who believe in me and are willing to support Canadian athletes. It means that Shaw is a company that understands what it takes to be high level, and is willing to help. It means being a part of one big Family!
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