Canada's Olympic athletes are going for gold, hoping for a record medal haul in Sochi. Canada has produced some of the world's top athletes. We have interviewed many elite Olympians about their rides for the "My Car" column. After reaching the top of the podium, what are Canada's retired Olympians up to nowadays? Here's an update.
Clara Hughes
Clara Hughes is one of Canada’s most accomplished Olympians. She’s the only athlete ever to win multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Games – a total of six Olympic medals in cycling and speed skating. Now, she’s the national spokesperson for Bell Canada’s Mental Health initiative and the ‘Let’s Talk’ campaign.
Silken Laumann
Powerhouse rower Silken Laumann has three Olympic medals under her belt. Since retiring, she has penned a few books. Her latest is a memoir called Unsinkable. Her philanthropic endeavours include Right To Play, an international humanitarian organization and GoodLife Kids Foundation.
She is pictured here with her dog Balto beside her Acura MDX near Victoria, B.C. in 2006.
Jon Montgomery
Skeleton racer Jon Montgomery captured Canadian hearts and a gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. But he’s best known for his victory walk chugging back beer in Whistler. He hoped to defend his Gold in Sochi, but didn’t quality – perhaps sidetracked from his TV hosting gig on the Amazing Race Canada last year.
Theo Fleury
Perdita Felicien
An Olympic medal eluded Perdita Felicien. She was a favourite to win gold in the women's 100-metre hurdles at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, but her dreams were crushed after tripping over a hurdle. Nowadays, she’s a reporter/videographer at CHCH-TV in Hamilton, Ontario.
She is pictured here in 2005 with her 2005 Subaru Legacy.
Ross Rebagliati
Ross Rebagliati made Olympic history after winning the first gold medal for snowboarding in Nagano in 1998. The medal was stripped away after testing positive for marijuana, but it was later returned when the decision was overturned.Last year, he founded Ross’ Gold, a medical marijuana company in B.C.
Brent Hayden
Brent Hayden won a bronze medal in the 100-metre freestyle swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The three-time Olympian retired from competition, but he’s still making waves in the water. He recently started “Brent Hayden Swim Camps” in British Columbia while working as a freelance photographer.
Simon Whitfield
Simon Whitfield was the first triathlete to win gold in the inaugural Olympic men’s triathlon at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney. Since retiring in 2013, he has worked as the director of sports entertainment at the Fantan Group in Victoria.
Simon Whitfield is pictured here in 2008 with his 2006 Honda Fit.
Sami Jo Small
Goalie Sami Jo Small was instrumental in winning Gold with the women's hockey team in the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics. The three-time Olympian isn’t leaving the rink anytime soon. She co-founded the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, plays with the Toronto Furies, and runs a female hockey school with training camps in four provinces.
Curt Harnett
Cycling star Curt Harnett has three Olympic medals: a silver from his first Olympics in LA in 1984, a bronze in Barcelona in 1992, and another bronze in Atlanta in 1996. Nowadays, he’s helping other athletes as the chef de mission for the Toronto 2015 Canadian Pan American Team.
My Car: Canadian Olympic cyclist has been a 'car nut' since childhood