Success Stories

I am currently a member of the Canadian National Track and Field team, Canadian Record Holder with a jump of 4.51 metres and ranked seventh in the world, competing internationally in women’s pole vault. I have participated in a number of events around the world, including the World University Games, Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and the Olympic games. It was at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Greece that I achieved one of my greatest feats thus far. Placing sixth amongst the world’s greatest pole-vaulters was the most gratifying moment for me. This said, even more important than realizing these goals was the journey I took to get there. The hours of training, the ups and downs … it is hard to describe the intangible qualities such as spirit and dedication, which I maximized to reach this level of achievement.

Prior to becoming a pole-valuter, I was gymnast on the National Team for seven years. During the last two years of my gymnastics career I endured multiple serious injuries, two of which required surgical intervention. After tearing my Achilles tendon in 1997, I decided it was time to give up the sport I loved and let my body rest. I actually joined my high school swim team that year, thinking that it would be good rehabilitation for my injury and that it might be my next sporting endeavour.

My cousin Jeff Ellis, a 400-metre hurdler on a track scholarship at the University of Kentucky, told me about pole vault and how former gymnasts tended to make good pole-valuters. I had never even heard of pole-vaulting, but as it turned out, it was offered at my high school. I loved it the first day I tried it.

The next several years would be a test of my dedication and ability in this sport. It included many challenges and triumphs. Clearing 4.41 metres (the Olympic A Standard at the time) at a meet in Houston, Texas in May of 2004 was one of the greatest moments in my career. I had been jumping great in practice, but struggling to clear anything close to 4.40 metres in a meet. My husband (and coach at that time) believed in me and kept reassuring me that I would jump high soon. When I cleared 4.41 metres that day in Houston I thought, “Wow, I am going to the Olympic Games.” It proved to me that things can turn around at the drop of a hat and anything is possible. This drive and desire is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. 

As an elite athlete, having quality medical attention is vital to peak performance. I have been a patient at Waterloo Sports Medicine since I was nine years old. I remember coming in for the first time after breaking two ribs as a young gymnast. I endured quite a few sports-related injuries throughout my gymnastics career, and I came to WSM for each one. The Sports Medicine Doctors and Physical/Athletic Therapists always helped me to rehabilitate back into top form. Although I visited WSM for specific injuries, I also scheduled appointments for preventative treatments – even if nothing hurt! I think it is important, not only as an elite athlete, but for all sorts of athletes, to keep up with treatment and exercises for injury prevention and maintenance. This is what helps to keep us healthy and pain-free on a daily.