Archive for the 'Canadian Athletes Support' Category

__________________________________________________________________________________

September 12, 2011 - NCLR Applauds New NCAA Inclusion Policy through “FORCED MEDICALIZATON” suggesting it Benefits Transgender Student Athletes in Intercollegiate and High School Sport Athletes.

The National Center For Lesbian Rights applauds the NCAA for their “inclusion” policy of which they were contracted to guide the NCAA around the issues of gender variant young women and men in intercollegiate and high school sport in the United States. Without evidence, approved a policy which forces young college and high school students, who have varying degrees of “gender variance” to seek “forced medicalization” of their bodies to which their gender naturally identifies, to “PLAY A GAME/SPORT” to be seen as socially acceptable, either one of the distinct two binaries, male or female. Of which, not one living human being fits let alone athlete.

This is outrageous,  and to force a child/young adult  through forced medicalization based on problems with social science, and if proper applied science and research was actually done, there is no issue for a gender variant youth to participate in their given sport of which they identify.

“We are using policy to force change nature to meet a man-made binary, rather than changing the man-made binary to meet nature’s design.”

This is a social ethics problem, the NCAA has failed horribly. The document speaks to men being superior to women physically. Not so. Thus asking much bigger question of ALL women, and how women are seen in sport and society.  This just reflects the current social problems and women’s barriers to participation.

This announcement by the NCLR and NCAA is very sad. Certainly not accurate and or reflective of sport, sport science and where sport is going as it pertains to gender.  This is a step backwards, and only reinforcing male/female narrow stereotypes and is not inclusive, in-fact forced exclusion.  Telling young gender variant women and men of varying degrees, which is common and natural, “forced medicalization” must take place if you wish to participate and “PLAY A GAME”. Along with that, we will make you jump through hoops and out yourself to do it. Moreover keeping in mind, as they mention one all privately and in confidence. Though completely unnecessary and inaccurate this policy, historically there has never been ONE incident where an athlete he/she has ever been protected and or privacy respected. It is impossible the NCAA and NCLR cannot provide privacy.

I worry greatly for a child ever getting into a situation where these institutions  can ever use such horrific policies.  Already vulnerable and terrified, this does not protect the athlete, but the NCAA.  This policy sets the NCAA up for a massive human rights case by a child/young adult ever having to go through such a process to play their sport.  Not with standing, the catastrophic impact to the individual athlete.

What were they thinking – We are forcing young people through policy to change their bodies to which they identify, to meet a man-made binary to play a game, to “fit in” within a binary code know-one fits. Instead of thinking outside the box, changing sport and sport policy” we are forcing nature to change to fit dated policy (which only reinforces the male stereo-type and division between two sexes),  forcing young people back into the very box they have spent their entire lives fighting to get out of.

That is the NCAA’s and NCLR’s vision of inclusion. How about starting over, and work on education and ‘Best Practices’ and not policy. You can’t create policy if you don’t have the right information.

An all time low for the NCAA, sport and diversity/inclusion.  A policy to be proud of NCLR. This is not an inclusive policy, in-fact completely exclusionary.

NCLR Press Release September 12, 2011 “Click Here”

NCAA Press Release September 13, 2011“Click Here”

__________________________________________________________________________________
(6) Key Supporting References -
__________________________________________________________________________________
NYTimes – April 24th, 2011 – Redefining the Sexes in Unequal Terms

Author: Prof. Alice Dreger, clinical medical humanities and bioethics.

Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Chicago, Illinois, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

Transgender Student-Athletes and Sex-Segregated Sport: Developing Policies of Inclusion for Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Athletics

Erin Buzuvis
Western New England College School of Law – July 20, 2010

Download Complete Research Document “PDF” CLICK HERE

Volume 9 Issue 6 – June 2011 World Sports Law Report
Eligibility: The IAAF hyperandrogenism regulations and discrimination
Author: Shawn Crincoli – Associate Professor of Law

Touro College, New York, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

Volume 9 Issue 4 – April 2011 World Sports Law Report
IAAF: hyperandrogenism rules are challenge proof
Author: Andy Brown [WSLR], UK.
For Full Article “Click Here”

__________________________________________________________________________________

Lancet 2005; 366: S38 María José Martínez-Patiño
Personal Account A woman tried and tested

“As I was about to enter the January, 1986, national championships, I was
told to feign an injury and to withdraw from racing quietly, graciously, and
permanently. I refused. When I crossed the line first in the 60m hurdles, my
story was leaked to the press. I was expelled from our athletes’ residence, my
sports scholarship was revoked, and my running times were erased from my
country’s athletics records. I felt ashamed and embarrassed. I lost friends, my
fiancé, hope, and energy. But I knew that I was a woman, and that my genetic
difference gave me no unfair physical advantage. I could hardly pretend to be
a man; I have breasts and a vagina. I never cheated. I fought my
disqualification.”

Download Full Review “Click Here”

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

An approach to the biological, historical and psychological repercussions of gender verification in top level competitions

Martínez-Patiño et al. / Gender verification in top level competitions JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE – VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 3 | 2010 |

MARÍA JOSÉ MARTÍNEZ-PATIÑO1, COVADONGA MATEOS-PADORNO2, AURORA MARTÍNEZ-VIDAL3, ANA MARÍA SÁNCHEZ MOSQUERA1, JOSÉ LUIS GARCÍA SOIDÁN1, MARÍA DEL PINO DÍAZ PEREIRA3, CARLOS FRANCISCO TOURIÑO GONZÁLEZ1
1Faculty of Science Education and Sport, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.
2Department of Physical Education, University of Las Palmas, Campus Universitario de Tafira, Spain
3Special Didactics Department. Faculty of Science Education. University of Vigo. Orense, Spain

Download Complete Review “Click Here”

__________________________________________________________________________________

Published September 2011

Inside The Games – London 2012 unveil design for gender pin badge
Thursday, 15 September 2011
By Tom Degun at the Handball Arena in London

__________________________________________________________________________________

September 15 – London 2012 have this evening revealed the design for the new gender pin badge here at the Handball Arena at the Olympic Park.

The unveiling ceremony was designed to coincide with the opening reception for the 2011 European Women and Sport conference, which will take place in the capital over the next three days.

Dignitaries in attendance included London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton, Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson and deputy secretary general of the Council of Europe Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, while London 2012′s director of human resources Jean Tomlin unveiled the new gender pin badge.

This latest badge is the fourth to have been issued in celebration of London 2012′s six strands of diversity, engaging all communities to support London 2012.

The first of the six pin badges was launched last year in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

For Full Article “Click Here”

Published September 2011

The Gazette – Savinova edges Semenya for 800m title
Agence France-Presse September 4, 2011 8:12 AM

Mariya Savinova of Russia (L) celebrates winning the women’s 800 metres final with second-placed Caster Semenya of South Africa at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu September 4, 2011.
Photograph by: Kim Kyung-Hoon, Reuters

Daegu, South Korea, Sept 4, 2011 (AFP) – Russian Mariya Savinova rained on Caster Semenya’s parade on Sunday, nipping past the controversial South African for world gold in the women’s 800m. Reigning world indoor and European champion Savinova timed her run to perfection, coming from near the back of the pack at 600m to clinch the victory in 1min 55.87sec.

Read Full Article: “Click Here”
__________________________________________________________________________________
COMMENT:
Today’s results illustrates the IOC’s historic threat to womens sports.

Congratulations to both Mariya and Caster…. These results speak loud and strengthens the resolve as the “projected” controversy around gender testing, Stockholm Consensus and the new Hyperandrogenism Rule is not an athlete problem, but solely the IOC and IAAF problem, in-fact who are the “controversy”. A social science problem at the highest level of international sport on how WOMEN ARE SEEN AS ATHLETES AND THEIR ABILITIES TO PERFORM WELL.

Important to note, Mariya’s finishing time today in Daegu today was 1:55.87, which she ran at  last years Worlds 2010 1:57.56. Caster’s winning time at 2009 World’s in Berlin 1:55.45. Caster’s second place time today was clocked at 1:57.42.

Three more women running sub 1:58.00 today…. Savinova 2009 Worlds time, 1:58.68, almost (3) seconds slower than what she ran today. Moreover, looking at the 2009, 2010 and 2011 results, a significant improvement by overall women’s speed which is absolutely fantastic! The women’s 800m contingency was in a lull for many years -

*Important to note Mariya dominated the 2011 season in the 800m. Fabulous to see these incredible women run, breathing new life and interest in the 800m event, which has been stagnant for a very long-time.

Are the IOC and IAAF now going to find a fault in Mariya’s gifted physiology and design a policy around her ability to compete, and disable her and take away from her ability to run well?  I am waiting to see the policy that comes out on Usain Bolt (“Lightening Bolt” policy for men who run to fast), and his complete and expected domination and paid millions to do so, over every 100m and 200m male runner in the field, to find fault to slow him down to create fairness with other male competitors in the top elite men. Bolt marketed by BOTH the IAAF and IOC earning millions of dollars as a major financial draw at the box office ticket sales,and putting a heartbeat of public and financial interest back into Athletics over the last several years.

It seems though, women don’t qualify  and are not deemed in the same genre or pursuit as men, when we do incredible world class performances, in-fact penalized for it.  The big question is “Why?”.

In the end and reflecting to sport leaders and international colleagues, I am very pleased with the women’s results and the scale of improvement in the women’s 800m.

Today you don’t see the IAAF/IOC running out “forcing” and invasive and illegal gender test on Mariya as she was the ONLY woman that ran into 1:55.00 (she looks feminine enough that’s why…), as in 2009 Caster was forced into a situation for an outstanding performance of which has become common place with Usain Bolt. Of which when he does not perform, we question “what’s going on with him making a big deal out of a false start that no other athlete had a problem with on the 100m final start-line”, expecting him to perform. As Usain said in an interview with the CBC in Daegu just after his 200m win, “I came today to do it for the fans… to show them I am the best.”

When a women does it, she becomes a controversy – thus is gender tested, which proves nothing and seen as a “tool of oppression”. Where women now feeling fear to perform well as a woman, you will be gender tested, a highlighting threat put upon women’s performance. Thus projects, “if you do not look feminine enough and perform well, we’ll get you…”

Why is it men get that chance and women do not? When women do it, they are then punished so inhumanely for it. Raped psychologically and physically (without consent or knowledge), humiliated globally, and many time leading to attempted suicide, alienation and poverty. If that is not enough, sport and media together making as if the athlete deserves it and in-fact have a right to do it. Ironically there is no repercussions to those who have created such hideous harm.

Todays results clearly illustrates the situation well. The suggested “CONTROVERSY” that has been weighing over young Caster that she has had to wear and so many athletes in the past is NOT THE ATHLETES, BUT THE IOC AND FALSE POLICIES such as gender testing, Stockholm Consensus and now Hyperandrogenism Rule which have been purposely designed to oppress and mislead international sport around women’s performance,  which has only led to the most CATASTROPHIC IMPACT to women, women’s sport in modern sport history. Used as “tools of oppression” not to protect women, but to control and oppress women from performing well in their given sport. Solely do to projected ignorance and human rights violations by the IOC towards women.

Caster like all the other women impacted by gender testing over 4 decades, gender was never in question… The IOC/IAAF done in such an adhoc manner, spent 11 months trying to figure out if they did the right thing or not. Had nothing to do with in-fact with Caster, other than her having to wear their mistakes so publicly and affecting her eligibility to compete in 2010. It had all to do about them.

99% of what was reported in the media was untrue…

The IOC is the “CONTROVERSY” and the biggest threat to women’s development and participation in sport at all levels, not Caster and or any other female athletes, as Mariya handily proved today and the other female runners in the field closely behind Mariya and Caster. The IOC is the problem, FULL STOP…

The courage it has taken Caster and many other women who have fallen to these practices and harmful policies, are profound. A courage only deserving of an Olympic gold medal, that is inconceivable, and the passion for sport and the will to be included and be your very best. Something the IOC and IAAF, have faltered over the last many years deceiving and misleading the public, media and international sports system of the truths and true impact these horrific polices and practices, have catastrophically ruined so many women’s lives.

Well Done Ladies…. WOMEN ARE GREAT ATHLETES TOO IOC!!
__________________________________________________________________________________

(5) Key Supporting References -

NOTICE
The Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] in Lausanne Switzerland, has approved jurisdiction to enable us to file legal case: “Human Rights and the Oppression of Women’s Gender in International Sport” to be issued by Kristen Worley (Canada) Cycling and Mianne Bagger (Denmark) Golf  v/International Olympic Committee [IOC].

Volume 9 Issue 6 – June 2011 World Sports Law Report
Eligibility: The IAAF hyperandrogenism regulations and discrimination
Author: Shawn Crincoli – Associate Professor of Law

Touro College, New York, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

Volume 9 Issue 4 – April 2011 World Sports Law Report
IAAF: hyperandrogenism rules are challenge proof
Author: Andy Brown [WSLR], UK.
For Full Article “Click Here”

NYTimes – April 24th, 2011 – Redefining the Sexes in Unequal Terms

Author: Prof. Alice Dreger, clinical medical humanities and bioethics.

Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Chicago, Illinois, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

AthletesCAN (CANADA) Canadian Olympian Nikki Dryden – Featured Article: “Hey International Olympic Committee – Your words are not enough”

The following article was written by Nikki Dryden, retired national team athlete and two-time Olympian.

For Full Article on the AthletesCAN website “Click Here”

Also can be found on the Women in Sport International Blog “Click Here”

Published September 2011

The Telegraph – Oscar Pistorius reaches first major able-bodied final as South Africa qualify for 4×400 metres relay at World Athletics Championships

Simon Hart, in Daegu. September 1st, 2011

Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius continues to make history at the World Championships in Daegu after reaching his first major able-bodied final as the lead-off man in South Africa’s 4×400 metres relay team.

For Full Article “Click Here”
Published September 1st, 2011

NCAA Inclusion Summit

Challenges, Champions and Collaborative Strategies
Moving toward a more inclusive culture

Monday, September 19, 2011

Hyatt Regency Indianapolis
One South Capitol Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Bringing together influential leaders within both the higher education community and advocacy groups to engage in a deliberative dialogue to identify measurable action-oriented outcomes and strategies to advance an inclusive culture in intercollegiate athletics and higher education.

NCAA Diversity, Inclusion, and Gender Equity Framework

As a core value, the NCAA believes in and is committed to diversity, inclusion and gender equity among its student-athletes, coaches and administrators. We seek to establish and maintain an inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation for student-athletes and career opportunities for coaches and administrators from diverse backgrounds. Diversity and inclusion improves the learning environment for all student-athletes, and enhances excellence within the Association.

The NCAA will provide or enable programming and education which sustains foundations of a diverse and inclusive culture across dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to age, race, sex, class, national origin, creed, educational background, disability, gender expression, geographical location, income, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation and work experiences. Programming and education will also strive to support equitable laws and practices, increase opportunities for individuals from historically underrepresented groups to participate in intercollegiate athletics at all levels, and enhance hiring practices for all athletics personnel to facilitate more inclusive leadership in intercollegiate athletics.

For Further Information “Click Here”

Published August 2011

AthletesCAN (CANADA) Canadian Olympian Nikki Dryden – Featured Article: “Hey International Olympic Committee – Your words are not enough”

The following article was written by Nikki Dryden, retired national team athlete and two-time Olympian.

“Sport, unlike anything else, brings the world together, has the power to change lives for the better, and is truly universal. “It has an almost unmatched role to play in promoting understanding, healing wounds, mobilizing support for social causes, and breaking down barriers”, says former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who believes that sport has the power to breakdown “myths and prejudices.” He also notes that athletes as well as sports organizations are critical in “unifying societies torn apart by conflict, tackling prejudices…and in breaking down gender inequality.”

Yet here we are in 2011 and women are not equal in the world of Olympic sport…not even close, and all 110 members of the International Olympic Committee (only 17% of whom are women) must be held accountable. Action, not words, must be demanded by athletes and coaches of the world, fans of Olympic sport, and corporate sponsors who lend their name to the Olympic movement. Without true gender equity in sport, the Olympic Games and the Olympic movement makes a mockery of women and their contributions to the world of sport.

On Friday, once again, Ms. Anita DeFrantz head of the Women’s Commission at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) named the three countries that have yet to send women athletes to the Olympic Games: Saudi Arabia, Brunei and Qatar. But we have heard this before. She said it in 2010 too – but at the 2010 Olympic Games 19 countries sent men-only Olympic teams to Vancouver.

The list of inequities does not end there. In addition to the many nation-states who do not send women athletes, there still exists unequal sports and events for women athletes at the Olympic Games, there are an unequal numbers of women participants, an unenforceable sex harassment and abuse policy, and discrimination in gender testing. Add into the mix a disturbing lack of women on executive sporting bodies and in the coaching ranks, and what you have is an IOC and Olympic Movement that does not care about women in reality, but pretends to do so in theory.”

For Full Article on the AthletesCAN website “Click Here”

Also can be found on the Women in Sport International Blog “Click Here”

Published July 2011

Caster reveals her agony over sex test
BONGANI MDAKANE | 09 July, 2011 23:53

An emotional and depressed Caster Semenya has revealed the humiliation and anguish she endured when doubt was cast on her gender.

Goto Full Article: “Click Here”

Published July, 2011

NOTICE
The Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] in Lausanne Switzerland, has approved jurisdiction to enable us to file legal case: “Human Rights and the Oppression of Women’s Gender in International Sport” to be issued by Kristen Worley (Canada) Cycling and Mianne Bagger (Denmark) Golf  v/International Olympic Committee [IOC].
__________________________________________________________________________________

Three (3) Key Recent References:

Volume 9 Issue 6 – June 2011 World Sports Law Report
Eligibility: The IAAF hyperandrogenism regulations and discrimination
Author: Shawn Crincoli – Associate Professor of Law

Touro College, New York, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

Volume 9 Issue 4 – April 2011 World Sports Law Report
IAAF: hyperandrogenism rules are challenge proof
Author: Andy Brown [WSLR], UK.
For Full Article “Click Here”

NYTimes – April 24th, 2011 – Redefining the Sexes in Unequal Terms

Author: Prof. Alice Dreger, clinical medical humanities and bioethics.

Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Chicago, Illinois, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

Published July 2011

A Brilliant Lecture – Dr. Alice Dreger: Is anatomy destiny?

Alice Dreger works with people at the edge of anatomy, such as conjoined twins and intersexed people. In her observation, it’s often a fuzzy line between male and female, among other anatomical distinctions. Which brings up a huge question: Why do we let our anatomy determine our fate?

Alice Dreger studies history and anatomy, and acts as a patient advocate.

Alice Dreger is a professor of clinical medical humanities and bioethics at the Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University in Chicago. She describes her focus as “social justice work in medicine and science” through research, writing, speaking and advocacy.

Goto Full Lecture: “Click Here”

_________________________________________

NY Times ESSAY – Sports
Redefining the Sexes in Unequal Terms
April 23, 2011

Published June 12th, 2011

PLAY THE GAME 2011 Programme Committee confirms today, Inclusion First Foundation presentation “Little Difference, Huge Impact: The Gender Challenge to Sport” – October 3-6th. Cologne Germany.

This could not have been received at a better time.  I received confirmation early this morning from the organizers from Play The Game in Denmark, that I have been approved by the Programme Committee to present on behalf of our new foundation.

Play The Game  Conference 2011 - “Bringing change to the heart of sport.”

For the seventh time Play the Game will gather stakeholders in sport to join the discussion on essential issues in world sport at the world communication conference Play the Game 2011 – bringing change to the heart of sport.

The conference offers a unique forum for dialogue on sport. Over 13 years and six world conferences, Play the Game has become the only international forum where leading stakeholders meet face-to-face in free and fact-based debates about the most important challenges to modern sport.

For Further Details about Play the Game: “Click Here”

For Further Details about Inclusion First Foundation: “Click Here”

__________________________________________________________________________________________
Published June 10th, 1011
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Volume 9 Issue 4 April 2011

IAAF: hyperandrogenism rules are challenge proof

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is confident that its rules on the eligibility of females with hyperandrogenism will withstand legal challenge when they are published on 1 May. Hyperandrogenism is a medical condition involving excessive production of hormones (androgens) such as testosterone.

Guidelines published by the International Olympic Committee on 5 April and the IAAF rules allow a female with hyperandrogenism to compete in women’s events ‘provided that she has androgen levels below the male range (measured by testosterone levels in serum)’. “We have received good feedback from lawyers and human rights experts”, said an IAAF spokesperson. “It is the only way to deal with this issue from a medical point of view. If we don’t have rules on this, we will also face legal challenge from other female athletes.”

Kristen Worley, founder of the Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport, questioned basing eligibility rules on androgen levels. “It flies in the face of the overwhelming evidence of the tremendous hormonal variability among humans”, she said. “This sets up many other young people for the devastating treatment that Caster Semenya experienced.”

Both the IAAF and IOC also dismissed concerns that by making an athlete who fails a hyperandrogenism test ineligible, they are posing a threat to their privacy. ‘A female athlete who declines, fails or refuses to comply with the eligibility determination process under the regulations shall not be eligible to compete in women’s competition’, read a 14 April IAAF release. Both the IAAF and IOC said there had been similar cases in the past that had been kept private. “Early detection for example under the Athlete Biological Passport will eliminate this issue”, said an IAAF spokesperson.

The IOC’s hyperandrogenism rules are scheduled for approval at the 123rd IOC Session in Durban, 1-9 July. “Once all athletes have their own biological passports, a case would be identified by abnormal hormone levels”, said an IOC spokesperson. “Since it may take some years for biological passports to become fully applicable, we will rely on the following mechanisms to trigger an androgen investigation: (i) the athlete may have symptoms that make her consult her team doctor; (ii) a pre-participation health examination may reveal there is a problem; (iii) a suspicion may arise in the doping control station; or (iv) a doping control analysis may reveal an abnormal hormone pattern”.

Goto Full Publication “Click Here”

Published May 2011

Oscar Pistorius the new A*Men Cologne –  Represented as a modern day hero.

Brilliant and ground breaking! This is the positive messaging of change and inclusion we are working towards.

Just Fabulous!

Removing the boundaries of diversity. The possibilities are unlimited, doing it together.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Goto – YouTube Advertisement – “Click Here“
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Published May 16, 2011

__________________________________________________________________________________________
A Brilliant Canadian Production!! – “It Gets Better Canada” – LGBT Celebrity Canadians share their stories for the It Gets Better Project

Nearly 30 Canadian celebrities have taken part in Canada’s version of ‘It Gets Better.’ It’s a half-hour video (launching November 2nd in Toronto) and fundraiser for Ontario’s LGBT Youthline. One of the celebrities in the film, Rick Mercer, will be on the show tonight to discuss this great campaign.

“It Gets Better Canada” UTube Video – “Click Here”

Many LGBT youth can’t picture what their lives might be like as openly gay adults. They can’t imagine a future for themselves. So let’s show them what our lives are like, let’s show them what the future may hold in store for them.

Growing up isn’t easy. Many young people face daily tormenting and bullying, leading them to feel like they have nowhere to turn. This is especially true for LGBT kids and teens, who often hide their sexuality for fear of bullying. Without other openly gay adults and mentors in their lives, they can’t imagine what their future may hold. In many instances, gay and lesbian adolescents are taunted — even tortured — simply for being themselves.

Justin Aaberg. Billy Lucas. Cody Barker. Asher Brown. Seth Walsh. Raymond Chase. Tyler Clementi. They were tragic examples of youth who could not believe that it does actually get better.

While many of these teens couldn’t see a positive future for themselves, we can. The It Gets Better Project was created to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach – if they can just get through their teen years. The It Gets Better Project wants to remind teenagers in the LGBT community that they are not alone — and it WILL get better.

Goto “It Gets Better Project” website for more information “Click Here”

Learn more about the LGBT Youthline “Click Here”

Published May 15th, 2011

Canada captures two gold medals at Para-cycling World Cup

CANADIAN CYCLING ASSOCIATION
2011.05.05

CANADA CAPTURES TWO GOLD MEDALS AT PARA-CYCLING ROAD WORLD CUP IN AUSTRALIA
The women tandem of Robbi Weldon and Lyne Bessette, as well as Jaye Milley take top honours in road race

(Sydney, AUS – May 5, 2011) The Canadian Para-Cycling Team won three medals on the second day of the 2011 UCI Para-Cyling Road World Cup in Sydney, Australia, including two gold medals. The women’s tandem composed of Robbi Weldon and Lyne Bessette, as well as Jaye Miley both won the gold medal in the road race of their respective categories while the Canadian handcycling relay team took the bronze medal.

Jaye Milley of Calgary, Alberta dominated the road race in the C1 category, completing the 53.7-km course in a lightning fast time of 1:40.44, beating his closest competitor, Austria’s Andreas Kirkl, by more than eight minutes.

Milley, who has been on the National Team for less than a year, is learning rapidly and is becoming an athlete to watch for on the start line. Milley won the bronze medal in the Kilo time trial at the 2011 UCI Para-Cyling Track World Championships in Montichiari, Italy, this past March.

The women’s tandem race, won by the Canadian duo comprised of Paralympian Robbi Weldon of Thunder Bay, Ontario and Olympian Lyne Bessette of Knowlton, Quebec, was much different. In a thrilling three-tandem sprint to the finish line, it’s the Canadians that edged by just one second the tandem of Jayne Parsons and Sonia Waddell of New Zealand, second, and the British duo of Lora Turnham and Fiona Duncan, third.

Goto to Full Press Release “Click Here”

Published May 6th, 2011