Name: Chelsea Valois
Sport: Bobsleigh
Hometown: Zenon Park, SK
Nickname: Chichi
Favourite Sports Memory: My favourite sports memory is when we drew mustaches on our faces in support of Movember during the World Cup race in Park City, Utah. It was fun to see the reactions on everybody’s face.
How you got involved in your sport: I was interested in trying out after one of my track and field teammates had been recruited to one of the bobsled camps. I contacted Bobsleigh Canada a couple years later and they invited me to a push camp.
The moment you knew you wanted to represent Canada:
I knew I wanted to represent Canada when I started watching track and field at the Olympics on TV as a teenager. I wasn’t training for track and field then but I was inspired and always dreamed of one day being in their shoes.
Favourite Quote:
“Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you’re right” – Henry Ford
CAN Fund Testimonial: I am extremely grateful for the support of my country through the CAN Fund organization. For the first time in my athletic career, I am able to focus solely on being a full-time athlete. This gives me the confidence and the reassurance I need to reach my full athletic potential.
Best Result:2013 World Championship Gold- St. Moritz, Switzerland
Share one valuable tool that you use on a daily basis that helps you to be the best athlete you can be: I always keep my goal in mind during every practice and in every decision I make throughout the day to keep me motivated and to keep me on the right track.
Who is one person in your life that has impacted your career and what was it that they taught you: I don’t think I would be where I am now without the help of the principal from a nearby town, Rocky Chysyk, who became my track and field coach in high school. I can’t imagine I would have done sports outside of school if it weren’t for him. The most important thing he taught me was to believe in myself and to have confidence in my abilities. He opened my eyes to sports outside high school and showed me that I could compete not just within my area but with the rest of Canada.
Unquestionably, my parents have also impacted my career by shaping me into the person that I am. My work ethic and values have come from them.
Fun Facts: I was a major tomboy as a kid. I would make my mom shave my head and I despised dresses and the colour pink. My favourite subject in school was math. I am obsessed with touching the noses of animals.