Women who highlighted my 2010

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Here are my favourites in no particular order:

Luciana Aymar

Known as “the magician” all over the world, Luciana Aymar is a field hockey phenom touching the hearts of so many young hockey players around the world. In September 2010, Aymar had a career milestone day where she earned her 300^th international cap in the gold medal game of the World Cup held in her hometown of Rosario, Argentina. On that same day, Aymar led Argentina to a gold medal victory where she was later named tournament MVP. As if her accolade pile could not grow taller, Aymar later received the most prestigious hockey award of being crowned the FIH’s Player of the Year for the seventh time. On a personal note, Aymar has been my favourite athlete of all time, sporting the baby blue and white jersey with the bold #8 on her back. Her pink shoes and stick make her crafty stick work and speed light up across the astro turf. This hockey player has come miles in her career already but seems to just keep on going. This year she has truly re-affirmed my passion for hockey and my desire to be as great as her.

Joannie Rochette

At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, I had the pleasure of working for the Associated Press and had the privilege of meeting and interviewing several athletes. Joannie Rochette touched the lives of so many people when she skated her bronze medal performance after the very recent passing of her mother. Not only did she inspire so many people to do what you love even in tough times but she showed us the pride she had for her country, for her sport and for her mother. Being in her final press conference and seeing her speak in person made me realize just how raw and honest she was. Her story is one thing that we can all take with us for years but her genuine honesty worn on her face allows you to truly understand where she earned the courage to skate for her medal.

Maelle Ricker

Every time I here the infamous “I Believe” Olympics song I have flashes of Maelle Ricker's beaming, smiling face as she snowboarded across the finish line to victory. That remarkable finish not only attracted so much attention to snowboard cross but made her hometown in BC so proud to be Canadian. Her gold medal finish at the Vancouver Olympics will be engrained in so many hearts and she made me feel so proud to be a female in sport. Humbled by her supporters, following the Olympics, Maelle continued to make a name for herself and sport. I am so proud that her winning the medal has only given her a better opportunity to get her story of her journey to success out there to aspiring athletes. She is a blessing to Canada and we are so thankful to have been able to share her dream coming true on home soil.

Jane Roos

Founder and Executive Director Jane Roos has been instrumental in gathering funds for athletes of all sports in Canada. With her amazing team of hard workers she has managed to give so much credibility, value and honor to the Canadian Athletes Now program. Several 2010 Olympic athletes were recipients of the fund and were also medal winners. Her on-going, selfless act of recruiting supporters to donate have helped athletes of a lot of sports that are less recognized around the country. This year, I was one of 6 female field hockey athletes that received $6000 and we each donated $2000 back to our programs. Because of these awards from CAN Fund, our team was able to put $10, 000 travelling abroad to gain experience. Without Jane and her creative ambitions, so many athletes would not be able to afford basic necessities to train and be full-time athletes. This to me is a sign of a true leader for women in sport and I am honoured just to be apart of her movement.

Tara Whitten

Walking us out in the closing ceremonies of the XIX Commonwealth Games in India this year, Tara Whitten held the Canadian flag high and proud. I was honoured to be marching through the grand stadium behind Tara after she claimed a gold medal in track cycling. To be at a multi-sports event near athletes of this high standard was incredible. Being behind her at the closing ceremonies was even more memorable. Tara was very humble and willing to chat in the cafeteria at the games and I think her victory only humbled her more. I am so proud of her achievements this year and honoured to have met her.

Marianne St. Gelais

There were a lot of medals won at the 2010 Olympics for Canada but one of the most memorable non-podium moments that is glued in my memories is that of Marianne St. Gelais and her boyfriend Charles Hamelin. The moment that Hamelin won the gold medal in short track speed skating, all he could think of was rushing to Marianne to give her a hug and kiss. Marianne ran down the stands and hurdled barricades to get to him and congratulate him. This to me is the sign of an amazing relationship of trust and love. It is very hard for athletes to have relationships, especially with other elite athletes and even harder with an athlete in the same sport. All athletes at this level are very competitive but she is able to open up a side of her to be proud of Hamelin and that I truly admire. Their relationship is an inspiration to me and must be a true foundation for each of their successes.

Womens Ice Hockey

Of course Canada dominates in Ice hockey but come on, the women winning the gold medal, AGAIN? That is always going to make the highlight reel. Of course they are expected to win but that is an immense amount of pressure put on you to win the gold medal, on home soil, at the Olympics. I followed every game closely and as if anything needs to be said, this group of ladies is truly remarkable in every way. Celebrations aside, I am so proud of them and of course they crack the list for most memorable 2010 sporting moments.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir

Ice dancer Tessa Virtue and partner Scott Moir captured a gold medal at the 2010 Olympics in a stunning performance that shocked the country. I think more people in Canada tuned in to watch Ice dancing on TV than ever before and Virtue and Moir did not let the country down. Only two years younger than me, I am absolutely baffled at Tessa’s achievements at such a young age. The promise and future of her and Scott is so energizing that I can not wait to see how much more success is in store for them!

Catherine Pendrel

I had the incredible honor of meeting Catherine quite a few years back as we were both named as BC’s Tobacco Free Sport Ambassadors. Young and shy, I clung to Catherine who made me feel very comfortable and welcome as together with a group of aspiring athletes we tackled the problems of tobacco and came up with strategies to educate the young minds in our hometowns. A few years later, it is 2010 and I can’t open a single cycling magazine without seeing Catherine’s smiling face covered in mud after winning yet another mountain bike title. With her LUNA bar sponsor across her chest, I feel a special connection to Catherine because I had the pleasure of meeting her several years ago. She is ranked #1 in the world and still just as humble as the day I met her a few years back. She is still conquering the world and I am very excited to track her progress and hopefully see her capture a gold medal at the Olympics!

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Filed Under:  

• Cycling
• Field Hockey
• Skating
• Ice Hockey
• Olympics
• Snowboard
• Speed Skating
• Sports
• Mountain Bike
• Winter Games
• Figure Skating
• Track Cycling

This post is related to an ongoing story:

• 2010: the Year in Review

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