GOING
FOR GOLD IN TORINO
Canada’s
Olympic team has a decidedly
University of Calgary flavour
STORY BY
DON McSWINEY
PHOTOS
BY MIKE RIDEWOOD
They skate
in the Oval, train in university gyms and take classes across campus.
The University of Calgary’s connections to many of the members
of Canada’s Olympic team are almost too numerous to mention.
For starters,
many of the athletes heading to the XX Olympic Winter Games in Turin,
Italy have trained and competed regularly at the Olympic Oval and
at facilities in the Faculty of Kinesiology.
Besides
the many members of the Oval Xtreme women’s hockey team (including
Kinesiology graduate Danielle Goyette, Canada’s flag bearer
at the opening ceremonies), all the speed skaters train at U of C.
The bob-sled team also uses the Oval track on a regular basis.
Olympic
medallist Clara Hughes jokes that the staff at U of C’s Sports
Medicine Centre “hold her body together” for competition,
while researchers like Darren Stefanyshyn in the Faculty of Kinesiology
have worked to perfect the ergonomics of her clap skates.
It's also
worth noting that
four of the five-member women's Olympic curling team are
U of C grads: Shannon Kleibrink, Amy Nixon, Christine Keshen,
and Sandra
Jenkins.
Here’s
a look at some of U of C’s athletes who are going for gold in
Turin this week.
U
of C Olympians
READ
FULL PROFILES OF ALL U OF C'S OLYMPIC ATHLETES
(Includes
students, former students who have suspended studies
until after the Games, alumni and athletes who train
at U of C.)
Long-track
speed skaters
Arne Dankers
Steven Elm
Mike Ireland
Brock Miron
Denny Morrison
Jason Parker
Justin Warsylewicz
Jeremy Wotherspoon
Kristina Groves
Clara Hughes
Cindy Klassen
Krisy Myers
Christine Nesbitt
Shannon Rempel
Kerry Simpson
Brittany Schussler
Kim Weger
Short-track
speed skater
Alanna
Kraus
Women’s
hockey
(in non-Olympic years they play on
the Calgary Oval X-Treme)
Cassie
Campbell
Hayley Wickenheiser
Colleen Sostorics
Danielle Goyette

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