A Skater’s Life

Get your score cards ready. We sat down with Gabby Daleman, who’s career as a world medalist Olympian is an inspiring one indeed. We asked, she shared. Here’s Gabby’s story!

Life growing up was very busy. I did competitive gymnastics and skating. I also did jazz, hip hop, acro and ballet. I spent the summers in Parry Sound where my parents had a restaurant. My grandparents live there as well, I loved spending time with them.

I was always active. My dad was a national track and field athlete and my mom was a cross country runner. My parents believed it was important to participate in sport, be active and to just play outside. My mom felt that every Canadian kid should learn how to skate because the ice is part of who we are.

When I was 8-years old, I was watching my idol, Joannie Rochette, at the Olympics in Turin with my mom on TV. I told her that was what I was going to do. I told I was going to go to the Olympics. I already loved to skate, so I just trained more and harder with that goal in mind. It was a lot of work and I had my share of ups and downs. I had to work through exhaustion, pain and sometimes illnesses and injuries. It was nonstop training, competing and travelling. I also had to carefully watch what I ate which wasn’t always easy when you want to eat something that is fun but unhealthy. You had to find the right combination of training, nutrition and rest.

My plan is to keep skating and work towards the next Olympics in Beijing in 2022. My goals this year are to try and start my season a little earlier. I have had injuries which delayed my training and the start of my season. This year, I will hopefully be healthy and strong for the entire season.

I love Canadian food and sports. I’m a huge Raptors fan. I love to go up north to our cottage and hang out and swim in the summer. I love Canada and the people. We are so kind and so proud of our nation. Canada is like a big family. We support each other around the country. We’ve had some tragedies this past month in our country and lost so many people in the Humboldt accident and the Toronto van attack. People across Canada rallied around those affected and not only sent condolences but fund-raised and came out to the sites to show how much we all care about each other. It was a very bad time but the love and support we have for each other as Canadians is so amazing. I felt this support when I was at the Olympics in PyeongChang. I have such wonderful fans, Canadians who didn’t even know me supported me unconditionally and it was an incredible feeling. I felt so blessed.

I do love travelling to other countries and learning about them but Canada is home and where my heart is. I am proud to represent the Maple Leaf!

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You can follow Gabby Daleman as she gets those gold medals on her Instagram @gabby_daleman

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