Vancouver 2010: Women Athletes To Watch

Canadian Women Poised for Gold at the Winter Games

In 2010 Canada will host the world and the stressing about our athletic prowess is abundantly evidenced. As much as the patriotic moments of glory attached to sports success are an adrenalin shot to our collective ego we shouldn't forget our long term priorities in times of international competition.

It seems that our Olympic committee is committed to showcasing the best of Canadian values in 2010 with sustainability being at the centre of organising efforts. According to VANOC "sustainability means managing the social, economic and environmental impacts and opportunities of our Games to produce lasting benefits, locally and globally." As part of that commitment, the additional buildings needed for the Games will have a second life as affordable housing; "what will begin as 320 temporary shared housing units for 600 Games athletes and officials, will become 156 permanent affordable housing units in Chetwynd, Chilliwack, Enderby, Saanich, Sechelt and Surrey" reports the official 2010 Olympics website.

I'm proud when one of our own stand on a podium and is recognized as the best in the world, but I'm prouder when I hear examples of our social and environmental responsibility as those are the things that should define us. Once the Olympics are upon us we will all feel united in our support of those that represent us but, whatever the outcome of their personal goals and our collective hopes, it's nice to know that our values aren't on the chopping block because the world is paying us a visit.

Here are some of the women to watch for in Vancouver:

Canada's women's hockey team are the two-time defending Olympic Champions. Veteran forward Hayley Wickenheiser will be looking for her fourth Olympic medal while the retirements of Cassie Campbell, Danielle Goyette and Vicky Sunohara leave room for the next generation of Canadian female hockey players such as Marie-Philip Poulin.

In figure skating Joannie Rochette, a four-time Canadian champion, is a legitimate contender for the podium thanks to a new artistic style, more consistent jumps and improved confidence. She won two 2008 Grand Prix events and recently became the 2009 World Championship Ladies Silver Medallist.

In the ladies downhill speed events, Whistler's Britt Janyk became the first Canadian female to win a World Cup downhill in 14 years when she won the 2007 downhill in Aspen, CO. Janyk, who finished third in the World Cup downhill standings in 2008, will be racing on her home hill in 2010, where the finish line for the ladies' downhill is roughly 100 metres from her family's house. Her grandfather help build Whistler with the hopes of it hosting the Olympics and died shortly after the 2010 Games were awarded. That legacy will surely inspire Britt in her pursuit of glory.

Kristi Richards, 2007 World Champion, will be a medal threat for Canada in ladies' freestyle moguls. Richards finished seventh in Turin 2006 and has consistently finished in the top five in the overall World Cup standings since 2006.

Calgary native Lauren Woolstencroft, skiing in the Alpine Skiing amputee class, won four gold medals at the recent International Paralympic Committee World Alpine Ski Championships in Korea. Woolstencroft also won a gold and silver medal in Turin. She was named best female athlete at the 2007 Paralympic Sport Awards at the IPC general assembly in Seoul.

Colette Bourgonje, a Cross-country Skiing veteran of five Paralympics, the 2010 Games will be Bourgonje's last. She won two silver medals at the 1998 Paralympics in Nagano and two bronze in Turin. She also competed in Lillehammer (1994) and Salt Lake City (2002). The 47-year-old is a Saskatoon native.

Speed skating is certainly a strength for Canada. Short track speed skater - Kalyna Roberge is the bright star heading into Vancouver. She was ranked ninth in the 1000m World Cup rankings midway through the 2008-09 season. She is also the 2007 World Champion in 500m.

Kristina Groves has the potential to win five speed skating medals in 2010 just as Cindy Klassen did in Turin in 2006. A five-time medallist at the 2008 World Single Distances Championships, including gold in the 3000m, Groves leads the overall World Cup standings in 1000m and 1500m (as of January 15, 2009). Groves will be 33-years-old in 2010 but is proof that women are like fine wine; better with age.

In Skeleton Canada has two of the best in the world; Michelle Kelly and Mellisa Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth won bronze in Turin 2006 and finished 2007-08 ranked third. Kelly failed to qualify for the 2006 Games in Turin and almost retired. She persevered, focused on returning to the Olympic Winter Games in her home province of British Columbia, and finished second in the 2007-08 World Cup standings; she is a gold medal threat at the 2010 Games.