TELEVISION

WOMEN WARRIORS I

Women Warriors is an exciting docu-series licensed by WTSN, CBC and CFCF 12 Montreal which profiles the lives of Canada's elite, female athletes --- women who will amaze and inspire you. Shot in cinema-verité style, rather than in the typical "sports bio" method, we will give audiences a glimpse into the tremendous perseverance and mental fortitude it takes to reach the upper echelons of sport.

The series will also touch on the many social and economic issues that still plague female athletes in Canada, even in the year 2004 - poor coverage of women's sports, gender stereotyping, funding issues and most of all recognition and respect. Using a combination of interview footage, training clips and various archival materials each of the 30-minute installments will be colourful and meaningful portraits of Canadian women, as we have never seen them before.

The 2002 season features the following athletes:

• Michelle Buckingham - judo
• Roxane Forget - taekwondo
• Genevieve Jeanson - cycling
• Michelle Kelly - skeleton
• Susan Nattrass - shooting
• Christine Nordhagen - wrestling
• Alison Sydor - mountain biking
• Maryse Turcotte - weightlifting
• Melanie Turgeon - alpine skiing
• Hayley Wickenheiser - hockey

Michelle Buckingham - Judo

Confident and well spoken at 5'2-, Michelle is a dynamo on the mat. A veteran at only 33, Michelle has been a member of the National Team for over 10 years. She's been heralded as National Champion seven times, is a three time Olympian and has both gold and silver Pan Am medals to her credit. Like all athletes, Michelle has had her share of tough times --- in Sydney one tiny misstep with her foot put her on the mat and out of the competition --- but this true champion didn't let her Olympic disappointment get the better of her. She continues to train, compete and motivate herself to constantly move forward. "I really do love this sport, I won't say that I love it all the time, there are times I get fed up, but I can always see a way I can improve myself and I enjoy that --- it's still fun for me, still a challenge !" -- Michelle's determination and drive are a real inspiration not only to others in her sport but also to her young Judo students whom she teaches in an elementary after-school program. Return to top

Roxane Forget - Taekwondo

Imagine feet that travel through air at lightening speed, splintering wooden planks into pieces in the blink of an eye. Meet Roxane Forget, 29, 5-Dan Black belt in taekwando, a woman who clearly has the spirit of a warrior. "You have to be a warrior on the inside, strong mentally with only one thing on your mind --- winning."

Some of that thrill for victory dissipated after Roxane failed to qualify for the Sydney Olympics even though she had won the gold at the Pan American Games in 1999, but keeping her goals firmly in mind, she continued to compete. Last May, her hard work paid off when she again won a gold medal, this time with a stunning, underdog performance at the World Cup in Vietnam. "If you think of yourself as a warrior, you can't just give up after a disappointment. And I have the passion to continue!" Look for her to continue into 2004 as she prepares to bring home gold from the Olympics in Greece. Return to top

Genevieve Jeanson - Cycling

This champion road cyclist is probably the most focused 21 year old on the planet. She's been described by teammates as the Wayne Gretzky of cycling and was once compared to "an animal" by a cycling rival. She first gained world wide attention in 1999 when she became the first Canadian (man or woman) to win the Junior World Championship time trial and then added to her record by the winning the road race as well. Since the 2000 season she has taken top honors 14 times --- yet Genevieve remains remarkably humble about her accomplishments. Fans and sports aficionados alike say that her potential for greatness is beyond estimate. Return to top

Michelle Kelly -Skeleton

A natural athlete who's excelled at track, soccer and gymnastics, Michelle's chosen sport of Skeleton reflects her attitude towards life: Dive in head first and give it everything you've got! For viewers who've never seen Skeleton, they're in for quite a ride as we show them what Michelle sees as she careens down a bobsled run with her chin only inches from the ice! Besides being a Canadian Champion slider, Michelle has also done movie stunt work and has been approached by the famous Hart family to give professional wrestling a try (you don't want to miss her mother's reaction to that career path!). An absolute charmer, Michelle is an inspiration whose zest for life and positive attitude has pushed her through a lot of adversity in both her sport and personal life. Return to top

Susan Nattrass, PhD - Shooting

If Genevieve Jeanson is the young phenom of our Women Warriors, then Susan Nattrass would definitely be our pioneer. At 50, Susan has had one of the most remarkable careers in the history of women's sport in Canada. In 1976 she became the first woman to qualify and compete in trap shooting at the Olympic level and garnered worldwide attention at the Montreal Games. She's won six world championships --a feat no one else has matched and has taken home numerous awards for her amazing accuracy and skill. She has the distinction of beating out Wayne Gretzky as Canadian Athlete of the Year in 1981 and that same year was also inducted as an Officer of the Order of Canada. In her spare time Susan managed to earn a PhD, run an osteoporosis research unit and successfully lobby the International Olympic Committee for a separate women's trap shooting division --- a dream which was realized at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 2001, as the oldest competitor in the field, Susan celebrated her 25th appearance at the World Shooting Championships with a silver medal. She narrowly missed the gold after a three-way shoot-off for the medals. Always the competitor, Susan says not to count her out for the 2004 Olympics. Return to top

Christine Nordhagen Vierling - Wrestling

A dominating force in the world of women's wresting, Christine has won 10 Canadian Championships and 6 world titles in only 11 years. With that kind of record it seemed as though she had accomplished everything possible in her sport. There's even a sign outside her farming village in Northern Alberta, which proclaims: "Home of World Champion Wrestler Christine Nordhagen". Then last fall came the announcement that Christine has been waiting for her entire career ---- women would finally be allowed to compete in the Olympics - something she talks about with incredible emotion. Yet the chance to compete in Greece in 2004 and has come at a time when Christine now 31, has worked hard to start living a "normal" life outside her competition schedule. She teaches physical education at a Calgary high school and is hoping to start a family with her coach and husband Lee. The couple is even considering trying to have a baby in the next year --- which would leave Christine only one year to get into top shape for the tournament of a lifetime. According to her loving family and best friend, Christine has the drive and inner fire to accomplish anything she sets her mind to. Return to top

Alison Sydor - Mountain Biking

Alison is Canada's most successful female, mountain biker and one of the country's toughest athletes. She's been crowned both World Champion and World Cup Champion three times and won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics. That same year she was crowned Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year and also took home the title of World Cyclist of the Year by the influential Velo News. Alison definitely personifies the term Warrior. In a 1999 race, suffering from exhaustion and hypothermia, she collapsed with her foot still on the pedal to secure a third place finish and the year before, in one of the most dramatic finishes in mountain biking, she hoisted her broken bike over her shoulder and with a competitor right on her heels --- ran with her bike to the finish line. Alison continues to be a force in mountain biking today and spreads her passion for the sport through a kids ride program which is run out of North Vancouver. Return to top

Maryse Turcotte - Weightlifting

Petite and outgoing with a charming smile, Maryse Turcotte is not what most people would picture when they think of a champion female weightlifter. Yet, this determined strong-woman is Canada's best and among the top lifters in the world. In 1997 she made history becoming the first woman in the America's to lift double her body weight. Under the guidance of her coach and boyfriend Pierre Bergeron, Maryse took home a silver medal at the 1998 World Championships, the gold medal at the 1999 Pan Am Games, and the gold at the 2000 and 2001 College and University Worlds. She placed 4th in the Sydney Olympics and already has her sights set on Greece in 2004. Return to top

Melanie Turgeon - Alpine Skiing

Speeding down slopes at break-neck speeds Melanie relies on absolute, pinpoint control and daring grace. She was introduced to skiing even before she could walk when her dad used to take her down the slopes in a pack on his back! While most young kids were making snowmen, Melanie was soon competing. She burst onto the national scene in 1994 when she won an amazing 5 medals at the World Junior Championships. Over the years she continued to impress with numerous top-ten finishes and in 2001 became the first Canadian to win two World Cup medals in one-day -a silver and bronze in Austria. Her warm smile and natural ease has made her a darling in sponsorship circles and Melanie has been quick to pass her financial good fortune onto others. She's currently involved in a project, which will ultimately culminate in a shelter for young women. At only 26, Melanie is a true warrior --- tough, competitive and of course, a winner. She thrives on the dangerous, mountain courses and remains an active and positive role model for others. Look for her to showcase her remarkable skills on the 2004 World Cup circuit and at the 2006 Olympic Games.

Hayley Wickenheiser - Hockey

With a new Olympic Gold Medal in her hand only weeks after the Salt Lake City Games, true to her character, Hayley Wickenheiser was already thinking of her next big step. This amazing hockey star has a lot on her plate for a 24-year-old. Not only is she a force in women's hockey, but is also an Olympic caliber softball player who went to the Sydney 2000 Games - making her only the second Canadian woman to participate in both the summer and winter Olympics. If a double athletic life wasn't enough to take on, Hayley also adopted a toddler - the son of her boyfriend --- a hockey coach from the Czech Republic. This new Mom, an indisputable Woman Warrior, recently took on yet another challenge --- Playing hockey with men in a professional league in Finland. Return to top