Alumna Olympic hopeful

Alumna Olympic Skeleton medalist returning for gold

Armed with her sled (nicknamed White Lightning), alumna Melissa Hollingsworth is headed once again to the Olympics, this time in Canada.

Hollingsworth, who won the Bronze medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, has been training hard with her eye on the gold - even though her journey this last year has not always been smooth.

Over the last few months, she has managed to compete despite being ill for several races. She has also sustained a number of injuries training in Whistler - the track she considers to be the most challenging in the world. Her adversary.

Overcoming this fear has been a significant focus in her preparation. But it is something that she has met head on thanks to her determination and commitment.

Most recently, she was crowned Overall World Cup Champion in Igls, Austria. Thanks to this win, she will be the first racer to head down the track in Whistler.

There is plenty of buzz surrounding Hollingsworth - many believe that she is poised to win the gold. Perhaps her most loyal fans are those from her hometown, in Eckville, AB.

On February 4, the Mayor of Eckville will be presenting a "Melissa We Believe" banner to her family so that they can take it to Vancouver. The town, also featured in Melissa's CTV's Believe commercial campaign, will be gathering together to watch the Women's Skeleton races on both February 18 & 19 in their local curling rink.

As the competition draws closer, fans can follow Hollingsworth through her official website and diary. Regardless of the race's outcome, there is no doubt that she has established herself as a world class athlete and humanitarian whose perseverence is unparallelled.

Photo credit(s): Ewan Nicholson, Candice Albach & Charlie Booker