Biography

About Me

Never say never because while we may have Life planned out, Life might have things differently planned for us.  That is my athletic story.

I was born in Toronto, Ontario but grew up in the country, in the small village of Cookstown whose population is smaller than most high schools (population 800 people).    As a child I only wished one day I could compete in the Olympic Games, but nothing in my youth of swinging from the monkey bars or participating in extracurricular sports in school would have ever told me that this wish would come to fruition.

However, on one fateful day Life would share its plans for me.  While working at McDonald’s restaurant at the age of 17 years old, a coach (Dave Hunt) from the University of Toronto saw my “never ending long legs” and wondered if I’d like to learn how to high jump.   And the rest they say is history.

I am an Olympian and professional Track & Field athlete who participates in the High Jump, and I am currently training for the London 2012 Olympic Games. I’ve represented Canada on 20 national teams.  I am the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medalist, as well as a Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, Pan American Games silver and bronze medalist, Francophone Games silver and bronze medalist, and a World University Games silver medalist.  And if you had told me when I was a kid that I would become the athlete I am today, I wouldn’t have believed it!  Never say never.

On an aside, I’m also a nerd.  I am an avid reader and have an insatiable thirst for knowledge.  Ironically, the more I learn the more I realize how much I don’t know.  I’m currently in my last semester of school, preparing to defend my dissertation as I complete my PhD in Sports Psychology.  It’s no surprise that my research area of interest is High Performance – going from Good to Great.  Taken together this should make for an exciting year!

This will be my final year of competing as a professional athlete, and all I can say is, “What a ride it’s been!”  I’m looking forward to an exciting year of competition ahead, and leaving the sport with my best performances ever…. Simply emptying myself on the track and knowing I’ve done my best, with no regrets!  There is no next time, there is only right here and right now.  Last year has got be my best year.

Thank you for stopping in to learn about me.  But, most importantly thank you for your support.  None of us can achieve all that we do in life without the emotional and caring support of those around us!

Nicole