We’re very proud of all of BC’s athletes, and privileged to have the personal support of these great achievers as we help British Columbians get inspired about healthy living.
Team Lead - Simon Whitfield
Photo: Delly Carr – Trialthon.org
Simon Whitfield - Triathlon - Victoria
Simon is a three-time Olympian, Gold medallist at the 2000 Sydney Games, Silver medallist at the 2008 Beijing Games and personally responsible for making hundreds of thousands of Canadians scream at their television sets when he came from behind to win Silver in Beijing.
Outside of his sport, he is Dad to a young daughter and is committed to getting people of all ages enjoying the benefits of physical activity.
Stacie is a National Team wrestler who recently won the Canadian University Championships for the second year in a row, is a Junior World title holder and aims to be competing for Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.
Outside of her sport, she is a student at Simon Fraser University and she enjoys an active lifestyle which includes throwing sticks for her boyfriend’s dog.
Stacie’s Tip: Don’t worry about the things you don’t have control over!
Patrick Anderson - Wheelchair Basketball - Vancouver - Vancouver
Patrick is a three-time Paralympian, Gold from Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 and Silver from Beijing, is largely considered to be the best wheelchair basketball player in the world and is a great role model and fabulous ambassador for the sport.
Outside of his sport, he plays piano and is currently studying jazz guitar.
Sian started playing soccer at eight years old, was the MVP for two years at University of British Columbia and is currently the Vancouver Whitecaps all-time leader in goalkeeping appearances.
Outside of her sport, she loves snowboarding, rollerblading and biking with her friends and teammates.
Sian’s Tip: Love what you do and let that passion show when you compete on the field!
Michelle is in her third season as a National Team member and her future goal is to compete at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Outside of her sport, she has a BS Aviation, Tech, Professional Piloting and BA Journalism and Public Communications degrees from the University of Alaska Anchorage, owns a commercial and flight instructor pilot’s licenses and is now working towards being a flight instructor.
Michelle’s Tip: Do what you need to do to get where you want to go. If you have to wake up early to workout, do it. If you have to move to a different city so that you can train, go. Do everything that needs to be done, and then do more!
Zach is an Olympic track cyclist who placed 7th in the Points Race at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, an eight-time national champion and current Pan American Champion in the Madison event.
Outside of his sport, he loves hiking in the mountains and is passionate about being involved with the green living attitude that is growing in Vancouver.
Zach’s Tip: You don’t have to be the best at your sport, you just have to want to do it every chance you can; from that hard work becomes play and that play is fun.
Emily is a two-time Olympian in Alpine skiing, has graced the World Cup podium seven times in her career and is really looking forward to representing Canada at the 2010 Olympic Games.
Outside of her sport, she likes to mountain bike, hike, golf and play squash. As she says, there is also nothing like a nice trail run in the mountains!
Emily’s Tip: You can get the benefit of sport whether you compete in your backyard, on the school grounds or internationally.
Dave is a three-time Olympian who won Silver in the Pairs event with Scott Fransden at the 2008 Beijing Games and was a World Champion in the eights crew in 2003.
Outside of his sport, he is the Community Relations Advisory for BC’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum and Dad to a young daughter.
Dave’s Tip: Get outdoors! The effects of TV, computer games and the internet are dislodging – but to get out into natural surroundings is energizing and grounding!
Ryan is an Olympian who won Canada’s only medal in the pool in Beijing, Bronze in the 1500m, and is the only Canadian to swim 1500m in under 15 minutes.
Outside of his sport, Ryan visits schools to talk to kids about Olympic values and the importance of being active.
Ryan’s Tip: Sport should be constantly enjoyable and never become a burden. Try every sport you can, you never know what you will excel at until you've tried everything!
Rayna is a goalie with the UBC Thunderbirds and started playing ice hockey when she was only four years old. She was a member of the silver medal winning 2009 IHHF World Women’s Under 18 Championship.
Outside of her sport, she is a student at the University of BC and she likes to play basketball with her friends, kayak with her dad and take her dog for walks.
Rayna’s Tip: Follow your dreams. You can do anything if you put your time in and are determined. Work hard and make sure you have a lot of fun.
Anna-Marie is a two-time Olympian, competing in the Eight (W8+) in 2004 and the quadruple sculls (W4x) in 2008. She is also a three-time National Rowing Champion in the singles and has 'beat the beast' by winning the 2008 National Indoor Rowing Championships and the 2007 World Indoor Rowing Championships.
Robert is an Olympic Gold Medallist (1996, Athletics) who was a member of the world’s best 4x100m Relay Team in the mid-90s, with teammates Glenroy Gilbert, Bruny Surin and Donovan Bailey.Their domination of the event started with a bronze medal at the 1993 World Championships followed by Gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, the 1995 World Championships and the 1996 Olympic Games.
He helps athletes of all levels improve their training and performance and in his spare time, he enjoys playing dominoes with his friends…and he says their version is very active!
Robert’s Tip: Minimize fried food and make healthy choices daily.
Carly is a visually impaired National Team skier who sat out most of the 2008/2009 season due to injuries, but has consistently been on the World Cup podium and is eager to compete at home at the 2010 Paralympic Games.
Outside of her sport, she likes to ride her bike, take walks with her parrot and, when she has time, scuba dive
Carly’s Tip: Always stay positive and set goals for yourself; if you work hard and believe in yourself, you can achieve anything you want to.
Lauren is an Olympic triathlete and a 2007 Pan American Games bronze medallist who switched from swimming to triathlon in her first year at University.
Outside of her sport, she loves to go for hikes, or “nature adventures” as she calls them, and feels lucky to live on the West Coast with an abundance of mountains, coastlines, forests, walking paths and trails.
Lauren’s Tip: Before you got to the grocery store, make a list ahead of time to pick up healthy and satisfying snacks, so that you are prepared for recess, lunch break, after school snacks.
Trevor is a Paralympian who helped his team win bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games, has only been on the National Team for two years and is known for his offensive strength.
Outside of his sport, he likes to swim and play ball hockey with his teammates to keep active.
Trevor’s Tip: If you are in a wheelchair, pursue active living and get involved with a wheelchair sport; if you’re able bodied, try a wheelchair sport as an alternative!
Andrea is a Paralympian who competed in long jump final at the 2004 Games in Athens brought home Bronze from the 2007 Para Pan Amercian Games and recently switched to alpine skiing to achieve her dream of competing at home in 2010.
Outside of her sport, she is training with RBC to be an Account Manager.
Andrea’s Tip: If you can't read and understand the ingredients in the food that you are eating you probably shouldn’t be eating it. Your body is like an expensive car, you put bad gas in it and it doesn’t work the way you need it to!
Carol is an Olympian who won Canada’s first gold medal of the 2008 Beijing Games and is inspiring young people across the country to take up wrestling.
Outside of her sport, she is thinking about returning to University to become a sport psychologist.
Carol’s Tip: Meet with friends to do physical activity instead of or as well as meeting for lunch/dinner! www.carolhuynh.com
Kyle is a National Team triathlete who is turning heads on the World Cup circuit and is gunning for the 2012 Olympic Team.
Outside of his sport, he enjoys beach walking and hiking local trails with his girlfriend.
Kyle’s Tip: Make yourself a smoothie. It’s a great nutritious snack anytime of the day and easy for your body to digest. Throw a bunch of your favourite fruit in a blender, add yogurt, orange juice and almond milk and enjoy!
Adam is a two-time Olympian, three-time World Champion and a member of the eights rowing crew that won Olympic Gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, who led the crew in a raucous singing of O Canada on the podium in Beijing.
Outside of his sport, he is committed to issues of environmental sustainability and energy efficiency; he constructed a biodiesel reactor that processes waste vegetable oils into diesel fuel and would like to pursue a career in the alternative energy sector.
Adam’s Tip: Eat breakfast. I love whole grain hot cereal with granola on top and a side of veggies and eggs. This keeps me energized throughout the day!
Spencer Landsiedel - Modern Pentathlon – Abbotsford -
Spencer is a National level swimmer and modern pentathlete who aspires to reach the highest level in his sport as possible with his sights set on the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.
Outside of his sport, he is studying Business at the University of the Fraser Valley with plans to attend Law School, and balances his life by adding music, specifically playing piano and saxophone.
Spencer’s Tip: Being involved in sport keeps you healthy and lets you get the most out of life!
Ashleigh is the current World Champion in Ski Cross and has been selected to the 2010 Canadian Olympic Team. Her parents got her skiing very early in life; she was just two when she hit the slopes!
Outside of her sport, she loves riding both cross country and downhill trails on her mountain bike and surfing.
Ashleigh’s Tip: Follow Canada’s Food Guide; it is easy and logical. When grocery shopping write your list based on the four food groups, ie. what do you need from the dairy group?
Denny Morrison - Speed Skating – Fort St. John - Fort St. John
Denny is an Olympian who won Silver in Team Pursuit at the 2006 Torino Games, is the 2008 World Champion in 1500m and is part of a new generation of emerging stars delivering podium performances in the lead up to 2010.
Outside of his sport he coaches little kids at summer camps and makes time to talks with old and new faces when he goes back home to Fort St. John.
Denny’s Tip: My favourite food is pizza that I make myself with healthy ingredients; try it yourself and experiment!
Jay is a National Team member who recently stood on top of the World Cup podium with his brother Denny in the Team Pursuit and is aiming to for his first Olympic experience at home at the 2010 Games.
Outside of his sport, he is a student at the University of Calgary and can enjoy almost any sport, especially when he is playing for fun with friends or family.
Jay’s Tip: For short trips, ride your bike or walk instead of driving!
Tyler Mosher - Para Nordic/Para Snowboard – Whistler -
Tyler is a National team member of the Para Nordic and Adaptive Snowboard teams, is currently ranked #1 in the world in adaptive snowboarding, #26 in para nordic skiing and aims to be competing at home in 2010 in Paralympic Games in his home town of Whistler BC. Tyler is 40% Paralyzed below the waist from a snowboarding accident in 2000 and it is considered a medical miracle he was able to learn to walk again.
Outside of his sport, he is an environmental planner and owns a landscape design/build business. He likes to bike, hike and do yoga even though he can’t run or jump anymore.
Tyler’s Tip: Stay Positive, Healthy and Happy. Encourage people to get outside, no matter what the weather and enjoy their environment; everything from gardening to walking around your neighbourhood or to the grocery store! Don’t take your health and mobility for granted and get the most out of your day.
Julia is a National Team member who is turning heads in her breakthrough year in Ski Cross, the newest Olympic sport, and is aiming to be competing at home in 2010.
Outside of her sport, she enjoys doing anything active like sledding, swimming, Frisbee, soccer, floor hockey, cliff jumping, dancing, and whatever else with friends.
Julia’s Tip: Just keep moving! Find an activity or sport you enjoy doing so you will want to do it more often and do it with friends and family!
Mike is an Olympic ski jumper who competed in both the normal hill (K90) and large hill (K120) disciplines at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. An international competitor for five years, Mike is currently pursuing a degree in Engineering at the University of Victoria.
He enjoys activities that get him and his friends outside, including white-water kayaking, backpacking, hiking, skiing, swimming, cliff jumping and rock climbing.
Mike’s Tip: Everything in moderation! There’s no reason you can’t have ice cream, or chocolate once in a while long as you’re also getting everything else you need in the proper proportions!
Callum is a National Team swimmer who broke the 50m backstroke Canadian record at the 2007 World University Games and is the captain of the UBC Thunderbirds swim team.
Outside of his sport, he is studying Philosophy and Business at UBC and in the little spare time that he has, Callum enjoys reading good books, playing his saxophone and playing all kinds of sports.
Callum’s Tip: Get involved in sport and physical activity as they give you an opportunity to grow personally, meet new people and maybe travel the world!
Steve Omischl - Freestyle Skiing Aerials - Kelowna -
Steve is a two-time Olympian, three-time World Cup Tour Champion and 2005 World Champion in freestyle aerials.
Outside of his sport, he rides his mountain bike and road bike as often as he can and likes to golf, play hockey, surf, and fly fish.
Steve’s Tip: Home prepared snacks are a cheaper and smarter option than junk food so prepare your daily snacks long before you get hungry and always have a healthy choice available!
Annamay Pierse got involved in swimming at a young age and has been unstoppable ever since. 2007 was a breakthrough year for her when, after overcoming major dehydration at the 2007 Pan American Games, she used her strength and determination to win two silver medals and break two Canadian records, the later a 20-year old record in the 200m breastroke.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Pierse achieved a six-place finish in the 200m breaststroke in a Canadian record performance (2:23.77), and this year, she broke the World Record in the 200m breaststroke in semi-finals and continued to win Canada’s first silver medal of the 2009 World Championships.
Anna is an Olympian, the highest ranked North American singles player and the reigning Canadian National and US Open Champion. At the 2008 Olympic Games, she became the first female singles player from a Pan American country to achieve a top-16 finish.
Outside of her sport, she loves to go for walks with her friends and sees this as a great way to visit and talk, while at the same time exercising. Some of her friends have dogs so they get exercise too.
Anna’s Tip: Everyone has some talent but the biggest talent of all is being able to know your dream and having the courage to go after it, even when people tell you otherwise. Olympians become Olympians because of their commitment to their sport and the dedication they show day in and day out, and at the start of it all we were just little kids with a dream.
Ben is a current Olympic Champion in the Men’s 8s, a two-time Olympian and three-time World Champion who only started rowing when he enrolled at the University of British Columbia.
Outside of his sport as an athlete, Ben is coaching first year rowers at UBC and is involved with Right to Play, a humanitarian organization focusing on promoting health and play initiatives in the most disadvantaged areas of the world.
Ben’s Tip: The more you do the better you will be; find some good friends/ training partners and challenge yourself daily to be better; even if it is just one inch faster, any improvement is better than none.
Michelle is the 2008 Paralympic Champion and World Record Holder in the 100m and is trading her sprint training in for marathon for the 2012 Paralympic Games.
Outside of her sport, she works to promote opportunities in the workforce for people with disabilities. She loves to swim and ride her bike with her husband and son.
Michelle’s Tip: Spend more quality time with family while engaging in physical activity!
Tony brought home bronze from the 2006 and 2007 World Championships leading up to the 2008 Paralympic Games, where he and his crew placed sixth in the Coxed Four event. He was a competitive triathlete before his injury encouraged him to try rowing.
Outside of his sport, he enjoys spending time at his family cottage and hiking and playing with his two dogs.
Tony’s Tip: Always plan to have several “healthy” snacks close by such as fruit, veggies, nuts, cereal or an energy bar; they are a better alternative than something full of sugar or high in bad fat.
Donovan was the flag bearer at the 2008 Paralympic Games, is a three-time Paralympian, a multi Paralympic medallist and current World Record holder in the 800m and 1500m events.
Outside of his sport, he’s an avid downhill skier at Blackcomb with the help of the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP) and also enjoys running and hiking.
Donovan’s Tip: Balance is the key to living a healthy lifestyle. You can’t expect to eat healthy 100% of the time…nobody’s perfect! But you should always be aware of what you put into your body. Eat three good meals a day, stay hydrated, and if you feel the need for a treat now and again, go for it!
Mason joined the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2008 after four years with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Running Rebels. He started his soccer career as a six-year old and joined the Lions Gate soccer club on Vancouver’s North Shore as soon as it was offered to him.
Outside of his sport, he loves playing tennis with his brother and golf with his dad. He also loves snowboarding but finds it difficult with all his training and risk of injury.
Mason’s Tip: Practice and hard work are important elements to success….but the hard work can also be a ton of fun, so bring some fun into your practice!
Naomi recently came out of retirement to train with the first-ever All Native Women’s National Lacrosse Team that will compete at the 2009 World Cup in Prague. She is passionate about Aboriginal Communities and ensuring access to the benefit of sport at all levels - from grassroots to high performance.
Outside of her sport, she loves to kick the Hacky Sac and snowboard with my friends and family, but her ultimate joy is playing with her 21/2 year old daughter.
Naomi’s Tip: If you want to do well at something, practice, practice, practice!
Erinne is an Olympic road cyclist who has been competing internationally for 10 years and was silver medallist at the 2007 Pan American Championships in the time trial event.
Outside of her sport, she likes to hike, swim in lakes, water ski, downhill ski, play soccer, dance to good music and work outside in the yard; all with anybody fun, like her husband, family or good friends.
Erinne’s Tip: Do whatever you LOVE.....and of course wear your helmet.
Simon is a three-time Olympian, Gold medallist at the 2000 Sydney Games, Silver medallist at the 2008 Beijing Games and personally responsible for making hundreds of thousands of Canadians scream at their television sets when he came from behind to win Silver in Beijing.
Outside of his sport, he is Dad to a young daughter and is committed to getting people of all ages enjoying the benefits of physical activity.
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