Olympics: Priscilla Lopes-Schliep Tweeting Over Hurdles

Canada’s Priscilla Lopes-Schliep has a busier schedule than most prospective Olympians. The 100m Hurdles specialist is one of the primary contenders for gold at London 2012 and is balancing life on the track with life as a mom. Al Dannity takes a look at one of Canada’s most interesting athletes.

Quite the schedule
Priscilla Lopes-Schliep’s life was plenty busy living the rigorous schedule of a world-class athlete. Now she has the twin tasks of being one of Canada’s best medal hopes in London and being a mother. Lopes-Schliep gave birth to her first child just 9 months ago and now she wants to bring home a gold medal for her daughter Nataliya.

Lopes-Schliep has embraced her role as both a mother and an athlete. Having added Pampers as a sponsor, she is helping promote the first ever version of O Canada sung entirely by babies. “Balancing family and career is never easy, but my message for Canadian moms is that you can do it with focus and the right support system in place,” she said.

Becoming a parent is always a challenge but Lopes-Schliep’s support system has ensured she can get back on track towards regaining her ranking as the world’s top hurdler. Getting that positive message across has been a big part of the Whitby, Ont. hurdler’s build-up towards the Olympics. Through her Twitter handle @GoPriscilla she has reached out to a new audience. Even more fans will see her handle at the Canadian Olympic trials as athletes will have their Twitter handles on their bibs.

Plenty of competition
In addition to her busy Diamond League schedule, Lopes-Schliep can expect some serious competition at the Canadian trials. There are 5 Canadian hurdlers in the world’s top 30 this season and all of them have already achieved the Olympic qualifying standard. Lopes-Schliep will be expected to cross the line first at the trials but she could benefit greatly from the standard of competition.

Perdita Felicien, a two-time world champion, will be one of those looking to shock Lopes-Schliep at the Olympic trials. Even an athlete as decorated as Felicien is far from certain of a seat on the plane to London. With only three slots available, the likes of Phylicia George, Nikkita Holder, and Angela Whyte will all look to make the Olympic squad. All five of Canada’s top contenders can hold legitimate medal hopes in London but two of them won’t even get to travel. That presents Lopes-Schliep with a chance for some intense competition before the greatest show on Earth gets under way.

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