This past Sunday I was forced to retire, not due to injury, not due to not being good enough, but because I couldn't afford to slide this year. After a season of being told that I am needed by my team, that I am a great asset to my team, my coach told me that I wouldn't be getting carding money, a Federal program that gives a monthly stipend to elite athletes. I didn't receive it last season and it was extremely difficult on me, as it meant that as soon as season ended I was forced to find a job and work full time while training full time and attending UBC part-time.
This year I couldn't pay the $6,000.00 team fee as well as pay for my living, rent, groceries etc without help. I applied to every grant, scholarship I could and somehow always made the short list and then came in second place and didn't get any money. Since I had to quit my job at the end of June I have had no income coming in since then, and was looking at a large quantity of money going out and I simply could not afford it this year. Unfortunately when I discussed this with my coach, the one who told me he needed me on the team, he simply said, "I can't help you" and thus I was forced to hang up my bobspikes and end my season before it even began.
If that isn't heart break enough for one week, watching ones' Olympic Dreams come crashing down, UBC Track team turned me down, as they had filled their quota of sprinters this year. Despite the fact that I am coming off a 14 month National Team Training Program and am stronger and faster than I have ever been, there was simply no room for me.
So here I will be going back to UBC in January to complete the last 9 credits (3 classes) so that I will be graduating in April, and I will be a retired athlete who is fairly unwanted. I know I have so much more to give to my sports, unfortunately no one else seems to think that. So despite having 2 large doors slammed in my face I will competing at the indoor meets as an unattached - I just want to see where I stand after all of my training. If I am not up to par then I will retire and go on and enjoy something different. Pick up my golf clubs, get back in the pool, hit the road to ride or run. But I can't just let all my work go unused I refuse.
I have yet to decide if I will continue updating my blog - I was never really all that good at it anyway! I'm sorry to all of you who I let down, I know I did all that I could do - I trained, I slept, I ate, I saw physios, chiros, doctors, acupunturists. Everything that I could control I did, unfortunately I do not control who gets funding, the funding cuts, who gets the grants so it is with great sadness that I am hanging up my bobspikes and possibly my track ones as well.
I would like to thank everyone for your continued support and encouragement in my athletic endeavours - it is so much appreciated.
Thank you :)
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