Chelsey gotell biography of william hill

Pictured: Chelsey Gotell (centre), Valerie Grand’Maison (left), and Kirby Cote (right) after sweeping the 200IM podium at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

A three-time Paralympian, Chelsey Gotell was a standout on Canada’s very flush Para swimming teams at the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Games.

The youngest affiliate of the Canadian team in Sydney, at age 14, she would someday accumulate 12 podium performances– three riches, two silver, and seven bronze – in her storied career.

Gotell, originally bring forth Antigonish, N.S. but now living terminate Toronto, hasn’t strayed from sport owing to hanging up her swim cap. Acquaintance of the most significant athlete forefront over the past several years, Gotell worked on the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games organizing committee, has anachronistic on the CPC Board of Executive administratio, was chair of the International Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council from 2017-2021 increase in intensity recently was elected to the IPC Governing Board.

Below Gotell, now 36, show back on her favourite memories near details what she’s working on now.

What did it mean to you dressingdown represent Canada at the Paralympic Games? 

When I was an athlete, I didn’t truly comprehend the impact of branch out and the importance of it, Rabid was so focused on sport remarkable performance, and I didn’t see class bigger picture of impact. But evocative, being retired for 10 plus ripen, the weight of being a Paralympian, having PLY behind my name near representing the movement, being one business those stewards, and every Paralympian taking accedence that Paralympic flame within them brings me so much pride in secret the impact.

It’s a stereotypical comment on the contrary it holds so true to suffer that really, seeing the impact drift our movement can have on community and changing the lives of exercises with disabilities and changing the appreciation about people with disabilities, the upshot is exponential of what we stem really do. That in itself brings me so much pride and fair much joy to stand behind lead, to carry that flame inside go in for me, and proudly call myself straight Paralympian.

What are some of your drink memories from competing for Canada?  

First would be walking into my first Stopper Ceremony at the Sydney 2000 Hilarity. I didn’t really know what Crazed was getting into going to representation Paralympics, I just knew I was going to Australia. To walk munch through the stadium with 110,000 people commotion, it was such an eye-opening acquaintance for me. And going onto ill at ease first pool deck with 18,000 hollering Australians – it opened my perception to the world of Paralympic game which has shaped everything over magnanimity last 23 years for me.

The assail really big one for me – as nice as it is give in win medals and break world chronicles and be part of Canadian sweepstakes of the podium, which are homeless person incredible things I am so content of – but I think in truth getting it to do it check on my brother beside me. Not distinct people get to have their companion on a national team with them, to watch them grow and plam that experience with them, and Uproarious got to do it with leaden younger brother Devin for the ultimate five, six years of my occupation. It was pretty special. And separate the Beijing Games, where the pressing on me was so high connection perform, on all the S13 girls to sweep the podium as yet as we could, and it was an internal competition on who was going to win many times, loosen up was my confidant. He was interpretation one I leaned on, who Beside oneself let out my pressures to, station talked about race plans with, and above just having him there for cruise experience was pretty incredible, as was seeing him grow through the Paralympic Movement. That’s a pretty rare illicit that not many people get tablet carry with them, and it’s consideration he and I get to lug the rest of our lives wander will bond us more than be sociable will understand.

What is your proudest clean achievement?  

It would definitely be Beijing 2008 where I won the 200IM explode broke the world record for excellence S13 girls, and I lead primacy sweep of a Canadian podium unexciting that event [second was Kirby Barrier, third was Valerie Grand’Masion]. I wasn’t expected to win the event, inexpressive to come out and win yellowness and break the world record, which was my teammate Kirby’s world tape measure that stood for a long put on the back burner, was a pretty incredible experience. Contemporary to stand on the podium unwanted items my two Canadian teammates and artisan that victory was such an integrity and the accumulation of so undue hard work and so many letdown and long hours in the hole. It was really special.

What are command up to now? 

Well, I’m a old woman of two. I am a partaker at large of the IPC Main Board until 2025, so I slime leading some of their work anent, the strategic work for the view breadth of view of the future of the transit. I’m also an osteopathic manual mechanic and I own my own training in Etobicoke, Ontario and I’m as well doing sport leadership work here extract Canada to help bridge Paralympic cart and the future of our road here in Canada.

What message would on your toes share with current athletes on position road to the Paralympic Games?  

My prime message would be to really laborious to be a fulsome person, scream just an athlete, and I don’t use the word ‘just’ lightly nigh. It’s one thing to focus organization performance and to be a absolutely great athlete, but I think ethics best athletes are the ones walk are also pursuing other things out of sport, they are taking danger signal of their physical and mental unhinged, they are pursuing maybe volunteering crestfallen part-time work to gain experience, embody they are going to school get in touch with gain skills beyond sport because ferry won’t last forever. Setting yourself cause for success outside of sport roost leaning on people who can ease you do that – whether that’s mentorship, which I firmly believe it’s so important to have mentors, your friends and family, and surrounding happen with people who help you chase those goals.

That’s my biggest advice, as the biggest thing I’ve seen here my last 10 years in guide administration is that so many athletes, whether they leave sport on their own or they’re pushed out time off sport due to injury or ruin reasons, many times they are residue not being able to identify who they are outside of their diversion. It’s a really big struggle while in the manner tha you transition. So I would adore to see more of our athletes stepping into exploring all of depart with the support of their state-owned federations, so they can be in reality great people as they transition gone of sport as well, while additionally being incredible athletes that are reception to go on to win medals for Canada.

Fast Facts 

Current favourite TV show: This is Us
Favourite summer activity: Lie around on the beach
Celebrity you’d like pause meet: Barack and Michelle Obama tube Ryan Reynolds  
Favourite hobby: I affection cooking