Blog - The Gossip

I have been back in Canada for two weeks now, after having returned from my Right to Play field visit in Benin, West Africa. I had the absolute pleasure of making this memorable trip with two other Athlete Ambassadors: Caroline Ouellette – 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Women’s Hockey; and Martin Parnell – mega-marathon runner, having run 250 marathons (10,500 km) in one year at the age of 54! I am proud to consider them now friends!



My first blog since returning was a more focused topic on some of the superstitions, traditions, and practices that are not the facts that pop up when one Googles information on the country of Benin, West Africa. Being trusted with that very personal information had a big impact on me, which is why my first blog was focused mainly on one incredible conversation.

** Please read this blog and pass it on to as many people as possible. We must educate!

I have just gotten back to Canada after a week in Benin, West Africa – a country between Togo and Nigeria that is about the equivalent size of either Pennsylvania or Newfoundland, but has a population of just fewer than 10 million people. Here are some other facts I’ve learned:

~ Benin has 12 provinces with at least one king per province/area.
~ 44.7% of the population is 14 years of age and younger. 
~ 2.7% of the population is 65 years of age and older.
~ The median age is 17.4 years.
~ The life expectancy is 59.84 years of age.
~ 1.2% of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS (approx. 60,000 in 2009)
~ 40% of the population lives below the poverty line at an earning of $1.25 per hour. 
~ With the definition of literacy being that over the age of 15 one can read and write, only 34.7% of the total population is literate (47.9% of the male population and only 23.3% of the female population). 
~ The average dropout age for girls who attend school is age 8, while the average dropout age for boys is age of 11. 
~ Women have an average of 6 children each. 
~ The infant mortality rate is 61.56 deaths for every 1000 live births.
~ Although it is legal to only have one wife, in reality, men have an average of 2-3 wives, with some having 6 or 7. 

Soooo…. I owe you all a big apology! I have not written a blog since Christmas, and A LOT has happened since then! As you probably already know, I am now an Olympic gold medalist from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver/Whistler! It is crazy! Very surreal! It’s not that I didn’t think that Kaillie and I could win the race… it’s just that suddenly people now want my autograph and their picture taken with me!! I was also given a key to my hometown city of Summerside! It’s been such an honour to be able to represent not only my country but my province and city as well. It just seems so funny when I really just feel like the same person I’ve always been! 



Do not be mistaken… I did not win this medal alone! And although Kaillie was my amazing driver/pilot with whom I won, I am actually referring to all of the people who supported Kaillie and me throughout our entire journey! There are no words that can effectively and accurately describe the depth of our gratitude – family, friends, supporters, sponsors, coaches and trainers, etc. The race was for us! The medal, we won for Canada!

WOW! Two nights ago, I walked the red carpet of the MuchMusic Video Awards with four other Olympic athletes – figure skaters Joannie Rochette, Tessa Virtue and Jeff Buttle, and snow boarder Brad Martin! It was crazy, amazing, unexpected, and exhilarating, and the air was electric. 

We were on the red carpet with Tila Tequila, Nickelback, Taylor Lautner, and we walked by Lady Gaga and Perez Hilton. Walking the red carpet? Well… a bit awkward! People behind barricades screaming endlessly for famous people climbing out of big black vehicles onto the red carpet. My brother asked me what I arrived in. A cab at the end of the street, and then I walked through the barricade with the group. Someone asked us later if it was like walking into the Opening Ceremonies at the Olympics… although it sounded the same, it was very different. At the Olympics, the people cheering know who the athletes are. At the MMVAs, the crowd outside was wondering who we were! My sport is not high profile and I compete with a helmet on my head. I’m definitely not as high profile as Tila Tequila or the Black Eyed Peas!

Wow. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve updated my blog. I am sooooo sorry that it’s taken this long. I guess part of the reason is that not much has been going on as it’s off-season, but also that I’ve been pretty busy. Hahaha. I know that doesn’t make much sense but let me explain. Hmmmm….. where did I leave off? The end of a chapter. Well, in this blog I’d like to start off by talking about the start of a new chapter! My new nephew Samuel Henry Seaborn (Sam) was born in Toronto on May 18th, weighing in at 9lbs 14oz! I was lucky enough to be in Toronto for his birth and did my part to take care of Charlie during those couple of days. It’s hard to believe one can be twice as proud as an auntie, but….. one can! So, I’d like to welcome little Sam into the world, and want him to know that I will be his and Charlie’s proud auntie in whatever they choose to pursue in life – as an athlete, a musician, a teacher, or a scientist – as long as they are happy and true to themselves!