Sochi Olympic Athletes from Ottawa Hometown: Almonte, Ontario Previous Olympics: Vancouver, 2010 Career Achievements: Medalled in Team Sprint at World Cup in Sochi 2013 Sochi Olympics 2014 Results: Ladies’ Relay 4x5 km; Time 59:13.6; Rank: 14 Ladies’ Team Sprint Classic Semifinals; Time 17:09.13; Rank: 5
Perianne Jones
Cross-Country Skiing
Almonte native, Perianne Jones’ interest in skiing started at the young age of two, but did not grow into a racing career until the age of 15 when her family joined the Nakkertik Ski Club in Ottawa. The time leading up to the Sochi 2014 Olympics has been less than smooth for Jones. After a minor scheduling setback, Jones was left stranded in Canmore, AB, while team members and competitors were in Europe. Instead of succumbing to the pressures of the situation, Jones focused her energy on the upcoming games and accepted her time in Canmore as an opportunity to relax and prepare for the Sochi Olympics which would prove to make her stronger. Hometown: Cumberland, Ontario Career Achievements: Recipient of an excellence award in short track at the 2011 Ottawa Sports Awards Sochi Olympics 2014 Results: Men’s 1000m time; 1:10.040; Rank 20 Men’s 1500m time: 1:49.42; Rank 33
Vincent De Haitre
Long Track Speed Skating
At the age of 6, Vincent De Haitre took up the sport of speed skating. He first knew he wanted to be an Olympian when watching the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, and seeing Catriona Le May Doans’ Vector commercial. He was scouted by his coach Mike Rivet, at the Gloucester Concord. After winning the 1000m and finishing third in the 1500m at the Canadian trials, he had earned his place on the Olympic team. Unlike his teammates and competitors, De Haitre had minimal international experience and made his World Cup and World Junior Championship debut in 2013 where he placed 7th in the 1000m and 1500m.
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario Career Achievements: Finished 2012-13 ranked third in the World Cup standings for the non-Olympic mass start event. Four-time World Cup medallist in team pursuit. Sochi Olympics 2014 Results: Ladies’ 3000 m: Time: 4:18.70; Rank: 24th Ladies’ 5000 m: Time: 7:20.10; Rank: 14th Ladies’ team Pursuit Finals: Time:3:02.04; Rank: 1st
Ivanie Blondin
Long Track Speed Skating
Ivanie Blondin was discovered by the same coach as her teammate, Vincent De Haitre. At the age of 2, she was enrolled in figure skating, but that did not please her inner tom boy. She was successfully trained as a short track speed skater at the age of thirteen. At the age of twenty, she transferred her training to become a long-track speed skater, after failing to qualify for the Vancouver Olympics. She has faced many physical challenges, such as battling mononucleosis and 5 concussions in a 3 year span, but has always risen to performing her best and was able to compete in the Sochi Olympics.
Hometown: Ottawa, Canada Career Achievements: Champions of World Women’s Curling Championship (2008), Champions of Scotties Tournaments of Heart (2009) Sochi Olympic 2014 Results: Olympic Champions
Dawn McEwen Women’s Curling 20 | March 2014
Dawn McEwen started her curling career, at the age of 7 at the RCMP curling club, located in Ottawa. In 2007, Dawn McEwen joined Jennifer Jones’ team as lead. The team would continue to win three consecutive Scotties Tournament of Hearts in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She missed the Canadian Curling Trial to participate in the Vancouver Olympics, but she made up for lost time, by becoming 2014 Olympic Champion.