Denis and I sat down with Marlyne Blatz and Sandra Kelly, mom and sister of Canadian Skeleton athlete Michelle Kelly (a.k.a. Mush) and talked about the sport, the Olympics and Michelle's athletic journey that brought her to Vancouver in 2010.
Marlyne and Sandra talked about Michelle's competitive spirit and the determination that has kept her in the sport for some fifteen years. Skeleton is demanding and punishing to the body, but Michelle's family says she considers it to be the least dangerous of the three sliding sports. Michelle likes to be in control and loves the feeling of sliding head first down the track. Check out our interview with her mom and sister:
For the 2010 Winter Games, Michelle Kelly's cheering section was twenty plus people strong. Her sister said in addition to herself and their mom, there would be their older sister and her two kids, an aunt and cousin, two sets of family friends as well as four or more of Michelle's friends. They brought two flags that were taken around Grand Prairie, Alberta and signed for Michelle as keepsakes. Her mom said they also had 12 Canada t-shirts made up with a maple leaf, Michelle's name and "Skeleton" on the back for the cheering section to wear. They must have been hard to miss at the Whistler sliding centre!
We want to thank Marlyne and Sandra for taking the time to speak to us while we were in Vancouver. We wish Michelle all the best in her future endeavors! We're sure we'll be hearing more from her.
Photo Credit: ctvbc.ca
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