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