CSI Calgary Welcomes Canadian Olympic medallists from across Canada

A major asset of the Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network is that athletes visiting for training camps and competition benefit from access to facilities and sport services. Never has this been as evident as over the course of the past few weeks as CSI Calgary has welcomed athletes from all over the country to its High Performance Training Centre.

The Freestyle Moguls team arrived for the holiday season, training after Christmas and then competing at the WinSport venue the first weekend in January. The contingent included Olympic Medallists Michael Kingsbury (Silver, Sochi 2014), Chloe Dufour-Lapointe (Silver, Sochi 2014),& Justine Dufour-Lapointe (Gold, Sochi 2014). Each left a lasting impression with great performances at the World Cup; Michael won gold, Chloe won silver, Justine won bronze and first time world cup medallist Simon Pouliot-Cavanagh won silver. An impressive start to 2015, the #YearOfSport!

WinSport also the hosted the World Financial Group Continental Cup for Curling, which had athletes from all over the world. CSI Calgary's Athlete's Lounge welcomed Brad Jacobs' rink (Ontario) and Jennifer Jones' rink (Manitoba) who both won gold in Sochi. They took time to visit and utilize the facility. Jacobs enjoyed a few good workouts in the gym too! The curlers praised the quality facilities and the distinct sense of 'Canadian sport' in the air. Alberta-based curlers John Morris & Ben Hebert (Gold Medal, Vancouver 2010) also competed in the Continental Cup helping Team Canada win the competition. They proudly showed off their hometown CSI to fellow athletes.

Olympic Gold medallist in the sport of Slopestyle Skiing, Dara Howell, joined her teammates for a training camp, as did the Halfpipe Ski Team. Again, they took advantage of the Athlete's Lounge as well as physio and massage services on-site in the WinSport Medicine Clinic.

The CSI Network made a major announcement on January 7th; the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Olympic Foundation and the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced a partnership with the Canadian Sport Institute Network for the next 3 years. This partnership will strengthen the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary's ability to support performance. This partnership initiative is anchored on the recognition that the CSIN holds the expertise in providing high performance services and programs to athletes, coaches and IST members. The new funding will be used to purchase new cutting edge equipment, hire new staff and supplement current practices in the areas of physical training, performance services enhancement and partnership servicing.

Coming to train in Calgary? Let us know!

Canadian Sport Institute Calgary: @csicalgary

Photo by Dave Holland: @csicalgaryphoto