Q: How did you get into speed skating?
A: I grew up in Calgary playing hockey, along with a lot of other sports. Hockey was my main sport until I was 15, when I had the opportunity to try long-track speed skating. Being from Calgary, we have the Olympic Oval, which was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, so having that facility made it easy to make the transition. That was when my Olympic dream started to take shape in speed skating. I've just finished my 12th season, so it's been quite the journey.
Q: What have been some of the biggest highs and lows of your athletic journey?
A: The Olympic Games have been both the biggest highs and some of the biggest lows for me. Beijing was my first Olympics, and it was a very overwhelming experience. It was during COVID, and I struggled with serious post-Olympic depression. We had talked about the possibility beforehand with our sports psychologist, but experiencing it was very different from what I expected. Not having my family there because of COVID made it especially difficult. Having that support in Milan was huge, and it completely transformed my experience. I felt confident standing on the start line and was able to skate with gratitude. There were a lot of challenges in the four years between those Games, but they've shaped who I am as an athlete and as a person outside of sport. I'm really grateful for everything I've learned along the way.
Q: How has your menstrual cycle affected your training and performance?
A: Over the last few years, I've been trying to understand how my body responds to training at different phases of my cycle. It's something I've been journaling about, especially over the last two years. A few years ago, I started getting sick quite frequently and eventually had to end a season early because of recurring illness. At the time, I wasn't sure whether it was related to my cycle. Looking back, I think I was pushing myself without really listening to my body.
I started noticing patterns, particularly during my luteal phase, when I tend to feel extremely tired, sleep poorly, and experience mood changes. In a high-performance environment where you're training hard and trying to make the Olympics, everything can feel so much bigger when you're already feeling physically and emotionally overwhelmed. I had to start communicating more openly with my coach and support staff. Sometimes that means recognizing the warning signs a week before my period and adjusting my training load rather than pushing through. I've also made changes to my nutrition, making sure I'm eating enough, focusing on whole foods, and prioritizing recovery. Sleep is still one of my biggest challenges during that phase of my cycle.
Q: How do you manage your period when you're competing at an elite level?
A: Competing can be challenging when you're about to get your period, especially if you haven't slept well the night before a race or you're feeling uncomfortable. I've had World Cups where I've struggled to sleep and haven't felt like I could perform at my best. But once I'm on the start line, the adrenaline helps me push through some of that discomfort. I've had good races at different points in my cycle, so it's not necessarily about being unable to perform. It's about understanding what my body needs and preparing for those challenges. I've also learned to recognize when I can push a little harder and when I need to focus on recovery. I've seen improvements in my physiological testing and on the ice since I started listening to my body more closely. The biggest lesson has been learning to honour how I feel instead of automatically telling myself to push through it.
Q: Has understanding your menstrual cycle changed the way you approach sport?
A: Absolutely. I think it's helped me understand that my body is capable of more than I sometimes give it credit for, as long as I'm paying attention to what it needs. Our hormones follow a different rhythm from men's, and understanding those changes can help us make better decisions about training and recovery. If I'm feeling particularly strong at one point in my cycle, I might be able to push harder or add an extra set. At other times, I might need to adjust slightly. It's about working with your body rather than against it. I've found that understanding my cycle has helped me perform better, both on the bike during testing and on the ice.
Q: What would you want young female athletes to know about their periods?
A: First, you're not alone. Women experience their cycles differently, and there's no single right way to feel or navigate your period. There's also a lot of variability within your own cycle, and your experience can change over time. I think it's important for young girls to have mentors they can look up to, especially women who have been through similar experiences. Having someone a little older who you can ask questions and talk openly with can make a huge difference. When you're a teenager, you might not understand what's happening in your body or know how to bring it up. That's why I think we need to talk about menstrual health more openly. The more normal these conversations become, the easier it will be for girls to feel comfortable asking for support.
Q: What do you think needs to change to better support girls in sport?
A: I think mentorship is huge. Girls who are just getting their periods could benefit from connecting with older athletes who have already experienced a few years of menstrual cycles and can share what they've learned. It's also important to recognize that women's experiences change over time. My own cycle has changed quite a bit over the last 10 years, so having someone you can turn to for guidance is valuable. We also need more women in coaching and support roles. In speed skating, there are still more men than women across the organization. When we're travelling for World Cups, I'd estimate that around 90% of the coaches are men across all countries. Male coaches need to be part of the conversation, too. Menstrual health shouldn't be a taboo subject, especially when such a significant portion of the team is made up of female athletes. Coaches can play an important role in creating an environment where athletes feel confident speaking up and where training can be adjusted when needed. Ultimately, we want girls to feel supported enough to stay in sport, build their confidence, and carry those lessons into life beyond athletics.
