Athlete Ambassadors

Duff Gibson

 

At 39, Duff captured the public's imagination with his stirring gold medal win, becoming the oldest Olympic Champion in an individual winter sport in history and an emotional highlight of the 2006 Torino Games. In 2008, Duff joined Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton as the National Coach of the skeleton team and also provided in-depth analysis of the sport for CTV's Olympic coverage. His awards include: 2006 Olympic Winter Games gold medalist, 2006 Canadian Male Athlete of the Year and 2004 World Championship gold medalist.

 

Kristina Groves

 

At the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Kristina captured a silver and a bronze medal to add to the Olympic silver medals she won in the women's 1500m and Team Pursuit event at the 2006 Games in Torino. Kristina is a conscientious athlete and advocate who is passionate about supporting Right to Play, Clean Air Champions and KidSport, sharing her love of sport, teamwork, community and the environment. Kristina is also proud to be an Athlete Ambassador for Sport Calgary and to encourage children to discover new sport activities.

 

Kyle Shewfelt

 

Revered internationally for his strong and graceful blend of artistry and athleticism, Kyle Shewfelt’s stirring gold-medal performance in the floor exercise became the international standard after the 2004 Olympics in Athens. It also happened to be his ultimate dream come true.

A defining performance for Kyle also became a transcendent moment in Canadian sport history blazing a trail for a new generation of gymnasts, fortifying the depth of the Canadian team in the years to come, and sending thousands of new kids tumbling into gyms across the Country.

In 2007, during a training session at the World Championships, Kyle suffered a devastating injury, breaking both of his legs just below the knees. With only 11 months to go before the 2008 Olympics, he embarked on the biggest comeback of his athletic career to join his teammates in Beijing. He qualified and performed brilliantly.  

By overcoming seemingly insurmountable circumstances, Kyle’s comeback story inspired an entire nation and he now speaks passionately about Pursuing Excellence, Dreaming BIG and many other playful and captivating themes.

Retired from competition, Kyle continues to build on his tremendous legacy as an ambassador for Gymnastics Canada, a powerful and engaging speaker, a community builder, an author and as an insightful television analyst and personality.

 

Jessica Zelinka

 

Following one of the most dominant and unprecedented seasons in national track and field competition, including a record five gold medal performance at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's (CIS) Championships, Jessica Zelinka received the BLG Award as the CIS Female Athlete of the Year.

With her 'one-to-watch' status solidified, she represented Canada in her major international competition debut at the 2007 Pan American Games and continued her winning ways with a gold-medal performance.

The Beijing Games provided a beautifully-scripted breakthrough for Jessica in her first Olympics. She smashed her personal best, setting a Canadian Record and finished just off the podium in fifth place.

In 2009, Jessica added the role of mom to her life and welcomes the challenge of competing for her daughter Anika, husband and fellow Olympian Nathaniel Miller, and for Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games.

In her first major competition as Canada’s seven-sport mom, she handily won her fifth National Championship and regained her international form adding a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

 

Earle Connor

 

Earle had his left leg amputated above the knee at just three months old. But he never shied away from sports, even when it might draw attention to his disability.

When a neighbourhood friend signed up for youth hockey, Earle was right there beside him. Eventually, he became the first disabled athlete to be drafted into the WHL.

While watching the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics on television, he was motivated to start training for the 100m. Within the year, Earle was the Canadian Disabled Athlete of the Year and had set his first 100m World Record. A triumphant Paralympic gold soon followed in Sydney 2000 and he added a second gold in Beijing 2008.

With a lifetime undefeated streak in the 100m, including 18 World Record performances, he’s had to rethink his goals and consider the impossible — breaking the 12-second barrier.

Today, 12-seconds has become more than symbolic. It’s a transcendent moment in disabled sport looking for someone bold enough to chase it…

 

Denny Morrison

 

Denny Morrison is writing the story of a small town boy who makes good in the big city.
 
Growing up in Fort St. John, British Columbia, he gave the province a recognizable face and a name that everyone got to know in Vancouver 2010.
 
Already an Olympic silver medalist in the Team Pursuit from Torino 2006, he came into the 2010 Games looking to move up the podium in two individual races – the 1500m and the 1000m – and the Team Pursuit.
 
In the closing days of the Olympics, Denny’s final opportunity for a medal came in the Team Pursuit.
 
And, he made the most of it.
 
Along with Lucas Makowsky and Mathieu Giroux, the team skated beautifully winning gold over their American rivals.
 
Still in his early 20s, Denny has firmly established his reputation as one of Canada’s bright young speed skating talents with his first World Championship win in Nagano in 2008 and now an Olympic gold medal.

With engaging charm and an easy-going style, Denny welcomes the opportunity to get together with corporate and community audiences to share the everyday challenges and successes of competing for Canada.