22 feature fe feat ature | entrepreneurs This February marks the beginning of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler, which will again bring Canada to the world stage of winter sports. Commitment, dedication and motivation to succeed are qualities that drive many of our athletes. ? ese qualities will be on prominent display as Canadian Olympians gear up to compete in these Winter Games. As February draws closer, many of London?s own female athletes are re? ecting on the power behind the Olympic Games to motivate fellow Londoners, as they take on new challenges themselves. Strong, successful women, who have established themselves in the world of sports, believe the presence of the Winter Olympics in Canada will showcase the abundance of pride that London residents, and Canadians in general, have in their national sports teams. ? e Olympics can also inspire anyone ? whether they are involved in sports or not ? to become active or pursue their own Olympic-sized dreams.
Home Team Spirit
Bringing Olympic Action to London
By Lisa Conlin While many of us will be lining up to buy red mittens and cheering on our athletes, competitive Boccia player Tammy McLeod will be hard at work, training to qualify for the National Championships. Boccia has been a part of the Paralympic Games since 1984. An Italian game in origin, it?s played indoors on a ? at surface with athletes propelling leather balls towards a white target ball. ? e sport is open to all athletes with severe physical disabilities and tests the athlete?s coordination, accuracy, concentration, and ability to strategize. McLeod is a member of the London Cannonballs Boccia Club, which starts back into practice sessions in late January. McLeod and her team are preparing for the Championships in Moncton, which are held the ? rst week of March 2010. McLeod is also working on qualifying for team Canada to go to the World Championships next June, in Portugal, and was already in full practice mode during a ? ve-hour training session when we spoke to her in the fall of 2009. ?I love the challenge, the competition, the rush that you get, and it gives you the feeling of accomplishment and gives you con? dence in life,? says McLeod. Speaking of other Canadian women Olympians, Silken Laumann, through a combination of talent, determination and perseverance, experienced great successes in the Summer Olympics, earning herself one silver medal and two bronze medals in single and double sculls over the course of three Summer Olympics. Laumann believes there is already a high level of excitement for the Olympics, which has been widely promoted across the nation. ?People are a lot more aware of our Winter Olympic athletes right now. We?re very patriotic, and the Olympics bring it out.? Tammy McLeod recognizes their potential to inspire action. ?I think having the Olympics and Paralympics in Canada will be a great thing for upcoming athletes. ? ey will get inspired and realize their dreams can happen in Canada.? To Laumann, having the games in Canada personalizes the Olympic experience for Canadians, who can relate to some of the stories, struggles and experiences of athletes who come from familiar cities and small towns. ?? en there?s a sort of connection too. It?s not enough to inspire people. ? ey also have to have that feeling that there?s a possibility that they can have that (connection) in their life too.? Laumann is a strong advocate for education and the bene? ts of physical activity and sports on academic, social and personal growth. She believes sports can have great bene? ts for women of any age. ?Sports in general is a great teacher. We learn that e? orts lead to results. When you create goals, you learn about goal setting, about working together.? | CITYWOMAN ISSUE EIGHT: JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 www.citywoman.ca
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