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In a sport where most successful
athletes begin from early childhood, Meaghan is truly unique. She was 19 years
old when she first started learning to inline speed skate, spending many long
hours - coupled with frequent crashes! - on her skates in her hometown of
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. In the years since then, her determination,
dedication, and passion for the sport have combined to make her a recognized
force on the international inline speed skating scene.
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Originally from Winnipeg, Meaghan
is now equally well known in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where she is majoring in
Animal Sciences and Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan. She is
proud of her prairie roots, having spent many happy hours learning about both
the culture and history of the southern Manitoba-Saskatchewan region.
Meaghan is the current and two-time Overall Canadian Champion, a four-time
National Record Holder and four-time Canadian Record Holder. From 1999 through
to 2004, she has won 32 times at the Canadian National Championships, finished
second 16 times, and finished third six times. A two-time recipient of the
Manitoba Order of Sport Excellence, she has achieved some of the highest
international results ever posted by a Canadian inline speed skater. Fueled by
stubbornness and a strong belief in the strength of her dreams, Meaghan's
long-term goals include becoming the first Canadian ever to place in the top
ten on the World Cup circuit, and medaling internationally.
In both the skating world and throughout the communities in which she lives,
Meaghan has gained the respect and admiration of those around her through her
cheerful smile, positive attitude, genuine sincerity, honesty, willingness to
learn, and determination to excel. These traits - coupled with a great deal of
personal initiative and leadership ability - have produced in her an
individual who has proven herself to be truly exceptional not only in terms of
athletic excellence, but also in terms of her overall commitment to the
various activities through which she has made such a significant contribution
to the welfare and spirit of the community as a whole.
In 2002, the first season she competed internationally, Meaghan's friends and
family discovered a previously secret talent - namely, her writing ability!
Her skating emails and stories have since become legendary as the media
through which her readers experience first-hand the joys - and frustrations -
of amateur sport. She recently built upon her love of writing by establishing
a school-based writing program, which she plans to expand into other
provinces. Within the community, Meaghan is a highly sought motivational
speaker, who blends a unique sense of humour with heart-felt messages and
skilled presentations that appeal to all audience ages and backgrounds.
Fluently bilingual, Meaghan is an articulate, engaging, and animated speaker
whose presentations have included topics as diverse as overcoming obstacles to
pursuing one's dreams to eating disorders and related issues. She is also
passionate advocate for amateur sport in Canada. Meaghan is involved with both
the Team Speakers Bureau and Athletes' CAN; as well as being Roller Sports
Canada's Athlete Representative and member of the Roller Sports Canada Board
of Directors.
Outside of skating, Meaghan loves reading and writing, in addition to enjoying
outdoor pursuits such as hiking, canoeing and skiing. An ardent animal lover,
she also delights in being around animals, having owned and/or fostered
snakes, rats, cats, dogs and several other species throughout the past years.
Meaghan (left
of motorcycle) on her way to a gold-medal finish at the
2004 Lille Marathon
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