Name: Virginia McLachlan
CAN Fund Recipient Since: 2015
Sport: Para-Athletics
Best Result:
2x 2011 Para-Pan Am Games Silver Medalist
2x 2012 Paralympic Bronze Medalist
Hometown: Windsor, ON
Nickname: Weezy, V
Horoscope Sign: Virgo
On The National Team Since: 2011
How does being a CAN Fund Recipient make a difference for you?
Being a CAN Fund Recipient will help me immensely this season! It will help me attend track meets where I can race the competition in my classification.
When was the moment you knew you wanted to represent Canada?
I think there was a part of me that always wanted to represent my country even before I started track. Then when I was 11 and in track I knew I wanted to represent Canada in the sport. I had a teammate who made the Athens Paralympic team and I saw what she accomplished and I knew I wanted that experience and to have the honour of representing my country.
How did you get involved in your sport?
When I was 7 years old, my mom was looking for an interesting and fun way for me to do my therapy. We got in touch with our local para-track club and as soon as I stepped onto the track I fell in love with the sport!
What is your proudest moment?
Stepping on the podium in London for the 1st time and looking at the crowd and seeing all my teammates and the staff from Team Canada and knowing I had accomplished my dream of winning a Paralympic medal.
What is your pre-game meal?
Before every race, my meal is usually salmon and rice.
If you could meet one person in the world dead or alive who would it be and why?
Terry Fox. He has always been my biggest role model growing up. He was always pushing himself to keep going!
What advice would you give to young kids or teenagers about following their dreams?
Never ever give up! All the hard work you put in through the practices and the good days and sometimes bad days will always pay off in the end.
What is your favourite thing about being on the road with your teammates?
They are like my family, we are always laughing and having fun!
What are you favourite places in the world you have visited?
Christchurch NZ and Italy
What three items do you take with you on every road trip?
Music, Camera and Running shoes
What is your favourite movie?
Dirty Dancing
What is your favourite book?
The Outsiders by SE Hinton
What is your favourite sports team?
Detroit Tigers
What is your favourite song or band/musician?
Song: Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
Band: Hozier and Florida Georgia line
Twitter: @vmclachlan2012
Website: virginiamclachlan.net