Canada

Interview with Marian Coulson, Head of Delegation of Team Canada

Have you been to Austria before? 

Yes, this will be my fourth visit to Austria.

 

Are you looking forward to the Games in Austria? 

Yes, I was fortunate enough to be a spectator at the last World Games held in Austria and am looking forward to returning once again.

 

How do you prepare?

In Canada we have a National Team Program that all of our athletes must commit to in order to be on the team. They have to increase their sport specific training hours, be part of a sport science program that includes fitness testing, strength and conditioning training, nutrition, and mental training. We also hold a number of training camps over the year leading into the games. The athletes training coaches must report monthly (using a web reporting tool) on the athlete’s progress as well the athlete must fill out a daily athlete on-line athlete training diary. The goal of the program is to provide the support so the athletes can achieve personal bests and be as prepared as possible for the World Games.

 

What do you hope of achieving during the Games? 

Our goal is for the athletes to achieve personal best and of course to win medals. We also want to be great ambassadors for Canada and to show the World what committing to quality programs for the athletes can result in.

 

Is there anything you would like the fans of Special Olympics to know? 

That our athletes are serious about their training and embrace the true spirit of sportsmanship.

 

 

written by Sophie Marak (University of Applied Sciences Graz-Joanneum)

 

Infos to the athletes from Canada