Name: Mellisa Hollingsworth
Sport: Skeleton
Hometown: Eckville, AB
Nickname: Mel
Favourite Sports Memory: Winning Olympic Bronze in 2006 and having my family there as I was awarded the medal.
How you got involved in your sport: My cousin Ryan Davenport is 2x World Champion and built skeleton sleds, introduced me to skeleton.
The moment you knew you wanted to represent Canada: I always dreamt of having the opportunity since I was young and watching the Olympics, but after winning the 1996 Canadian Championships in Skeleton I knew it was possible.
Favourite Quote: “No such thing as luck, just being prepared when the opportunity comes along.”
CAN Fund Testimonial: Money in our hand to use as necessary whether that is equipment, coaching, therapy, food. It’s hugely needed and appreciated if we want to continue to win Olympic medals for Canada.
Best Result:
-2006 Olympic Bronze Medalist
-2x Overall World Cup Champion
-3x World Champion Medalist
Share one valuable tool that you use on a daily basis that helps you to be the best athlete you can be: Stay grounded, balanced and keep things simple. Our minds are so powerful and our brains cannot decipher the difference between visualization and the actual activity. Keeping it positive and happy will help the longevity of a career and more success.
Who is one person in your life that has impacted your career and what was it that they taught you: My Dad Darcy. We would dream every night before I would go to bed about what could be in store for us in this lifetime. We didn’t come from a wealthy background, but we knew how to work hard and set goals. He has been along side me every step of the way through the great times and the sad times.
Have you read any articles or books or watched any videos or movies recently that really inspired you: Rudy is a favorite.
Fun Facts: I rodeo in the summer time. I own 3 horses, barrel race on 2 of them. My family raises bucking horses for rodeo. I’m a terrible swimmer, failed “yellow” when I was 6. Tupperware overwhelms me!!
Website: http://www.mellisahollingsworth.ca