Canada
Nikki Dryden
Country:
Sport:
Swimming
"Being a member of Team Darfur brings together the two most important things in my life: sport and human rights. As an Olympic swimmer I understand the power sport has to change lives and I hope that my success can lead to positive change for the people of Darfur. As a human rights lawyer I work daily to uphold the rights of people from all over the world. Because so much of the success of human rights defenders involves the shaming of governments to do the right thing, I believe that this year, the world's Olympic athletes are in a unique position to shame the government of China for its involvement in Sudan when it plays host to the world in Beijing. When you are an elite athlete it is often hard to find your voice on such issues, but the Olympic movement was founded on the ideals of human rights and peace, so there is no time like the Olympic Games to realize that dream for the people of Darfur."
Nikki competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. She also holds 3 Gold, 3 Silver and 5 Bronze World Cup medals.
Karina LeBlanc
Country:
Sport:
Soccer
Karina LeBlanc has been the assistant coach for the women's soccer team at Rutgers University since 2005 and has played with the Canadian Women’s National Team since 1997. She will be competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics with the Canadian Women's National Team.
Diane Matheson
Country:
Sport:
Soccer
Diana Matheson has qualified for the 2008 Olympics and will be playing with the Canadian Soccer Team. She is Princeton's 2008 Female Athlete of the Year. She played in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and she is the 2007 Ivy League Player of the Year. Look for her in the Olympics this year!
Rhian Wilkinson
Country:
Sport:
Soccer
Rhian Wilkinson has been a part of Canada's National Women's Team since 2003. In 2007 and 2008 she was nominated for the Canadian Soccer Association's Female Athlete of the Year. She also represented Canada at FIFA's Women's World Cup China 2007. Her National Team is qualified to participate in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Amy Walsh
Country:
Sport:
Soccer
Amy Walsh has been a midfielder for Canada's National Women's Soccer Team since 1998. While attending the University of Nebraska, she was twice named first team All-Conference and once first team All-Central Region. She is currently playing for Laval Cometes of the W-League and is also now qualified for the 2008 Olympics with her National Team.
