Five 2010 Alberta Olympians to Watch

It’s pretty much certain if you’re watching the Olympics, you’ll be cheering for any athlete who’s wearing the Canadian flag. But to show some provincial pride, here’s a list of some of the fantastic Albertan athletes that you can cheer for all the way to the podium. GO CANADA GO!

Kyle Nissen
Born and raised in Calgary, freestyle skier Kyle Nissen has had quite a few Olympic experiences – he was eight years old when the Olympics were hosted in Calgary and the Olympic fever hasn’t left him since. Nissen competed in Turin in 2006 and will be competing in men’s aerials in Vancouver. Nissen is an athlete on a roll – he’s had a lot of success recently, placing second at the World Cup in Lake Placid last year!

Jennifer Heil
While the road may be bumpy, women’s moguls competitor Jennifer Heil has proven she is a serious force to be reckoned with. The Edmontonian has competed in Salt Lake City and Turin, having the honour of winning Canada’s first gold medal in Turin. In addition to being a stellar athlete, Heil has given back to the community by starting B2ten, an organization that provides training resources and support to Canadian athletes to help them reach their dreams.

Brian McKeever
At age 19, Brian McKeever, a talented cross-country skier, was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, which causes rapid deterioration of vision. McKeever knew that he would now face the world with only 10 per cent of his vision. However, the brave Calgary native persevered and went on to qualify for the Paralympics and win multiple medals — and has now qualified for the Winter Olympics, something that the world has never seen before. McKeever is the first winter-sport athlete to ever qualify for both.

Mellisa Hollingsworth
One of the most death-defying sports of all, skeleton is a sport in which athletes can experience up to 5 Gs while sliding down a luge track on a small sled with no brakes or steering mechanisms. This is no problem for Mellisa Hollingsworth from Eckville, Alberta, who easily clinched bronze at Turin, and says she no longer pictures reaching the finish line, but simply the top step of the podium.

Kimiko Zakreski
If you’ve seen MTV Canada’s Over the Bolts, then you’ve seen Parallel Giant Slalom competitor Kimiko Zakreski battle her way to the Olympics. Currently residing in Calgary, this Alberta native has experienced a lot of success abroad — Zakreski won her first World Cup medal in 2008, finishing second in Limone Piemonte, Italy, and in 2009, she won a World Cup bronze medal in Telluride, Colorado.

These five athletes are a small representation of the 206 athletes Canada is sending to the Olympics — and every Olympic athlete is talented and has made sacrifices and worked hard to get to where they are. So, let’s show the world that Canada’s got the best fans in the world by cheering on our athletes and watching them win gold on our home turf!