Olympic dream still alive
Posted Oct 21, 2011 05:00:00 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Canadian Olympian and former Kitchener resident Kelly Vanderbeek says
it has been a journey to say the least.
She’s still recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in a crash almost two years ago.
The injury forced the 28-year-old to miss the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
“Really, I just want two more years out of this old body of mine to have a chance at Sochi (Winter Olympics 2014). The Olympic dream is really strong in me…It just gives people something to dream for that’s a little bit bigger than all of us, and it’s a really cool thing to be part of.” said Vanderbeek.
Vanderbeek tells 570 News she just finished her first training camp on snow, so she now has 11 days on skis.
Presently, she’s training in the gym and will be back on the hills in November.
We asked Vanderbeek what it will feel like to race again, “It’s an incredible group around me, so I truly don’t feel alone on anything I’ve been doing in the process, I’m doing it for myself as well as for them, so it will be pretty emotional.”
“The idea of going back is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do mentally as well as physically.”
“Thanks for all the support, Kitchener has been pretty amazing for me.”
No timetable has been set for her return, but Vanderbeek tells us she hopes to be back racing by February.
The Canadian Alpine Ski Team opens the World Cup season this weekend in Austria.
