Krista Guloien 

​ Are you an athlete transitioning from a career in sport and silently struggling along the way? Or perhaps you didn’t realize how you would feel when your career ended and how difficult transitioning to life beyond would be. You are not alone. Krista’s forthright tell all of her journey to the 2012 Olympic podium, as well as what came afterward will help you find closure, peace, as well as a safe place to relate, laugh and reflect on the “what next?” after sport. In sport, a

(Photo from The Canadian Press- Nathan Denette) As a hockey nation, here is a woman most of us probably know and rightly so. She was Canada’s flag bearer for the Sochi 2014 Games. The longest serving member of Canada’s National Women’s Team, Hayley Wickenheiser has competed in all five Olympic Games in which women’s hockey has been included, winning four gold and one silver medal to make her one of Canada’s most decorated Olympians. At just 15 years old, Wickenheiser made her

Sharon and Shirley Firth are now the first Aboriginal women inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. The twin sisters, members of the Gwich'in First Nation, grew up in Inuvik, N.W.T. They were major contributors to their sport of cross country skiing, representing Canada and competing in 4 Olympic Games between 1972-1984. (Read more about the Firth twins.) Sharon accepted the twins honour last night, as Shirley passed away in 2013 after battling cancer. I am sure it was a

​She trail blazes within her sport and leads by example. She stands out as a strong competitor in general, not just a strong female competitor. She pushes boudaries and refuses to let the differences between male and female athletes to be labelled as weakness. Just because it is a rule or it hasn’t been done before, does not mean that it can’t be done is one of her mottos. She lives in a world of possibility and credits that to her strong family foundation. I relate to an ath

Don’t underestimate yourself! You have a great story to tell and you are the expert of you. My teammate in London and more importantly my friend Andreanne Morin reminded me of this the other night before I went into my speaking engagement at Vancouver’s City Hall. I don’t know if she gave me this advice because she has felt this in her own development as a speaker and lawyer, and or because she knew that I would need to hear this, me as a person. Either way, she was right on

At nine years old she registered herself in hockey as Ab Hoffman, instead of Abigail in a boys league since there were no girls leagues to play in. In the recently filmed documentary "Play Fair", she comments that she just wanted to play hockey. After making all star status as a younster, her gender was uncovered when she had to hand in her birth certificate and she was cut from the team. Referred to as the "rebel with a cause", Abby went on to compete in track and field, alw

I am currently in the process of writing my book. It is still a work in progress, but it is coming along and I am excited for one day soon when it is a finished product and I can share it. My message or purpose to the book is to help retiring athletes, but I feel that anyone in transition will benefit. Life transitions and/or big life changes give us all similar feelings and struggles along the way. My goal is to break the silence and candidly sharing my struggles. Expect a r

When I was growing up, I do not recall being exposed to many strong female role models from the sports world. They existed, but there wasn't enough story telling and publicity of women in sport, there still isn't. The athletes we recall from the 1990s were mostly from male dominated team sports, such as football, hockey and basketball. Michael Jordon and Pavel Bure are two names that come to mind. For many, seeing possibiltiy and opportunity ignites the dream. It is important

In many ways it was all such a blur. You prepare day in and day out for every minute until you cross the finish line and beyond that is completely unscripted. Everything is fast paced, exciting and unpredictable. It is an amazing time. I remember trying to hang on to the moments as the fleeted by. I knew the speed with which it was all happening was going to make it hard to remember. My local newspaper was very supportive of me and my athletic journeys. I recall sitting in a

My first Olympics in 2008 didn't go exactly like I imagined or dreamed. Perhaps I was naive to how it would all go and or perhaps I underestimated how hard it would be. After we qualified the quad in 2007 I was introduced to sport organization politics and athlete injuries. I really couldn't know what I would learn until I crossed the finish line. I planned on seeing through one Olympics and retiring. Upon crossing the finish line I had a wave of new found perspective. I sudd