Gretchen Bleiler — Blog

I really do love sport and I loved watching the Olympics. So much that I neglected to do other work, like writing blogs, to take in all the inspiring athletes pursuing perfection in front of judges or being the fastest in their craft. I don’t feel too guilty because it was a bit like homework for me.

Rosie MacLennan has to be the first to mention. I feel amazed that I chose her to follow, and she ended up Canada’s only gold medal. In times of high pressure and somewhat being under the shadow of Karen Cockburn, she performed fantastic and kept Canadaat the top of trampoline. Canadian’s are so proud of what she accomplished.

This is not to say that I have forgotten about JessicaZelinka, who may have been a bit behind in the heptathlon but she still killed it in the hurdles, just missing the podium. Her story alone is so interesting, being a mom and an athlete, two full on major jobs; I can only imagine what that must be like.

Of course, last but not least Phylicia George, from my home city of Toronto, and even closer to my home town, Markham. A still blooming athlete with more Olympics to come I am sure.

The work all these athletes put into their sport is incomprehensible to people who do not pursue a sport and just watch them perform. It is easy to say how “disappointing” it is for someone to miss a mark but hard to truly empathize with those feelings. I suspect a small business owner may understand, but then their window of opportunity is a little winder when compared to an athlete.

I get it. My life for over ten years has been snowboarding, and I love it. Still it never has been easy. Lack of guidance at the start and middle was a struggle. The stigma snowboarding has had in the past never helped me in any way.

The looks my parents got when they told people their daughter was a snowboarder are memorable, I am thankful they are so awesome. They gave me a chance to prove snowboarding is a real sport, like diving or gymnastics, just like them I do this though hours of hard work.

I am excited to have a chance to change what it means to be a snowboarder in Canada. This movement is happening all over, especially with riders like Kelly Clark, Gretchen Bleiler, and Hannah Teter, who I see on snow and in the gym on a regular basis.

We are the ones who are diligent and committed to our profession in every way, and are willing to try new ideas. We will be inspiring for other females of all ages all around the world and we deserve to be called Olympic calibre athletes.

To KT Athletics /

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