|
|
|---|
|
|
SLAM! Sports 2001 in Review A LOOK BACK INTERACTIVE ALSO ON SLAM! 
| Wednesday, December 26, 2001 Le May Doan named female athlete of the yearCatriona Le May Doan, whose grace and elegance on skates hide her brute strength, has won the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canada's female athlete of the year. In 2001 Le May Doan was one of speed skating's premier artists. She lowered her own world record in the 500 metres. And she is both the world sprint champion and world single distance champion over 500. So far this season Le May Doan has won four World Cup gold medals in the 500 metres and has been beaten only once in her last 15 races in the distance. Heading into the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, she's considered one of Canada's top gold medal threats. Le May Doan, who also won the award in 1998, received 52 first-place votes and 217 total points from sports editors and broadcasters in balloting conducted by The Canadian Press and Broadcast News. Golfer Lorie Kane, who won the award in 1997 and 2001, was second with 25 first-place votes and 161 points. Skier Melanie Turgeon was third (seven first-place votes and 65 points) followed by hockey player Jennifer Botterill (seven first-place votes and 57 points) and triathlete Lori Bowden (six first-place votes and 44 votes). The award is named after the late Bobbie Rosenfeld, a multi-sport star voted Canada's female athlete of the first half of the 20th century by CP. Typically, Le May Doan was humbled by having her achievements recognized. "Canada is a big country, full of so many amazing athletes," said the Saskatoon native who now lives and trains in Calgary. "To be chosen as the top female is an honour. "You never do anything for these titles and honours. When they are given to you . . . you think that hopefully I've represented my sport and my country well. When people talk about speed skating you hope that people think and look at you as a role model." Le May Doan, who turned 31 two days before Christmas, first won the CP-BN award after winning the gold medal in the 500 metres and bronze in the 1,000 at the '98 Nagano Winter Olympics. Since then Le May Doan has learned that as hard as it is fighting your way to the top, staying there is an even greater battle. "I wouldn't have known that before," said the five-foot-seven, 145-pound skater. "It's a hard place to be because everybody wants to take your spot. Nobody wants to take the person's spot who is in second or third. Everybody wants that first-place spot." Le May Doan struggled in the 1999-2000 season. Podium finishes were rare and she was fourth in the overall World Cup standings. It was a learning experience. "I've had a couple of years when I wanted the spot back," she said. "You learn how to deal with not being there and you learn how to deal with being there. You have to keep looking ahead." Consistency is the mark of any great athlete. Le May Doan has owned the 500-metre world record since 1997, breaking it seven times. This fall, she matched the record of 37.27 seconds during a meet at Salt Lake City, then lowered it again to 37.22 seconds during a World Cup event at Calgary in early December. Le May Doan's record, as well as teammate Jeremy Wotherspoon's world mark in the 1,000 metres, are proudly displayed on a board at the Olympic Oval in Calgary where the national team trains. "We'd love to put more Maple Leafs up there," she said with a grin. "You go out and have a hard practice and you look at that and say 'I know it's there."' After the 1998 Games Le May Doan admitted some frustration that Ross Rebagliati, who almost lost his snowboarding gold medal in a marijuana scandal, benefited from several sponsors while she struggled to receive any corporate interest. Since then Rebagliati has disappeared from the scene while Le May Doan has received several sponsorships. She finds speaking at corporate events as nerve-racking as lining up for a race. "I work the same way with speaking engagements as I do with skating," she said with a laugh. "I'm hard on myself, I want to be perfect. It's been great with the relationships I've built and with being able to be financially supported." Heading into Salt Lake, Le May Doan carries a country's expectations on her shoulders. It's a heavy load but one she is willing to carry. "That's fine because they (the public) have seen what I'm capable of," she said. "Too me that's understandable. There's a bit of pressure on myself from myself." As fast as she is on the ice, Le May Doan hopes to leisurely enjoy her Games experience. She says Salt Lake will be her final Olympics. "I really want to slow everything down," she said. "In 1998 everything just flew by. I don't remember all the little details and I really want to." In a world where some athletes become aloof and self-centred, Le May Doan remains pleasant and accessible. She's a person grounded in her religious beliefs who frequently talks about her love for her husband and plans for raising a family after retirement. Asked to compare herself to the woman who won two Olympic medals four years ago, and Le May Doan becomes thoughtful. "I'm not saying I didn't enjoy everything before but I think I'm enjoying myself more now," she said. "I'm more settled and confident in myself. I'm more OK with me. That is a little bit of maturity and age." A look at speed skater Catriona Le May Doan, named winner of the Bobbie Rosenfeld award as Canadian female athlete of the year: Personal: Born Dec. 23, 1970 in Saskatoon. Now lives and trains in Calgary. Married to Bart Doan. Skating History: Started speed skating at age 10. National team member for 13 years. Winning Ways: Won gold medal in 500 metres, bronze in 1,000 metres at 1998 Winter Olympics. 2001 world sprint champion and single distance champion in 500 metres. World sprint champion in 1998. Records: Currently holds world record of 37.22 seconds in 500 metres. Has broke record seven times since 1997. Also holds Canadian record in 500 and 1,000 metres. Past Awards: CP female athlete of the year 1998. Off time: Enjoys golf, riding horses, raising cattle, reading and gardening. Wants to open bed-and-breakfast when she retires. Quote: "'Canada is a big country, full of so many amazing athletes. To be chosen as the top female is an honour." |