| BACKGROUND:
Mellisa considered quitting the sport of skeleton when she wasn’t named to the 2002 Canadian Olympic Team. Thankfully, for her, and Canada, she didn’t. Mellisa’s World Cup season leading up to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games redefined the term “hot streak.” After lengthy discussions with her coach during the off-season, and mapping out a new competitive strategy, the 28-year-old from Eckville, Alta., kicked off the pivotal season by winning her first World Cup in 10 years of racing, and became the first athlete in the history of the sport to never finish out of the top three for the rest of the year including the Olympic Winter Games. Mellisa headed to Torino for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, where she slid to a historic bronze-medal finish, after winning the Overall World Cup title. Gutsy, courageous and determined, Mellisa is proud of this huge accomplishment, but her competitive goals are not yet achieved. Mellisa is poised to win gold at home in 2010.
Mellisa grew up as a country girl on a ranch. Raised around horses while hanging out with cowboys and cowgirls on the family farm, rodeo was a tradition richly engrained in this naturally gifted Alberta rancher. When Mellisa was not pursuing excellence in a multitude of sports, she was often – and still can be – found riding horses or taking in the local rodeo. Prior to her skeleton career, Mellisa ran track and played basketball at a provincial level. She was introduced to skeleton and the idea of the Olympics by cousin, and two-time World Skeleton Champion, Ryan Davenport.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
2006 – Olympic Winter Games, Torino, ITA: 3
2000 – World Championships: 2
2003 – World Championships, Nagano, JPN: 5
2009 – World Championships, Lake Placid, USA: 6
2006 – Overall World Cup Standings: 1
2008 – Overall World Cup Standings: 3
2009 – World Cup, Park City, USA: 1
2009 – World Cup, St. Moritz, SUI: 2
2009 – World Cup, Winterberg, GER: 3
2009 – World Cup, Park City, USA: 3
2008 – World Cup, St. Moritz, SUI: 3
2007 – World Cup, Calgary, CAN: 2
2006 – World Cup, Calgary, CAN: 1
2006 – World Cup, Lake Placid, USA: 2
2006 – World Cup, Igls, AUT: 2
2006 – World Cup, Sigulda, LAT: 3
2006 – World Cup, Königssee, GER: 1
2006 – World Cup, St. Moritz, SUI: 2
2006 – World Cup, Altenberg, GER: 3
2005 – World Cup, Igls, AUT: 3
2004 – World Cup, Calgary, CAN: 3
2003 – World Cup, St. Moritz, SUI: 2
2008 – Canadian Championships, Calgary, CAN: 1
2008-09 RESULTS:
2008 – World Cup, Winterberg, GER: 3
2008 – World Cup, Igls, AUT: 9
2008 – World Cup, Königssee, GER: 6
2009 – World Cup, St. Moritz, SUI: 2
2009 – World Cup, Whistler, CAN: 9
2009 – World Cup, Park City, USA: 1
2009 – World Championships, Lake Placid, USA: 6
2009 – World Cup, Park City, USA: 3
2007-08 RESULTS:
2007 – World Cup, Calgary, CAN: 2
2007 – World Cup, Park City, USA: 5
2007 – World Cup, Lake Placid, USA: 4
2008 – World Cup, Cesana, ITA: 8
2008 – World Cup, Cesana, ITA: 7
2008 – World Cup, St. Moritz, SUI: 3
2008 – World Cup, Königssee, GER: 9
2008 – World Cup, Winterberg, GER: 4
2008 – World Championships, Altenberg, GER: 6
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