Another honour for Hayley

It was a pretty eventful two weeks for Hayley Wickenheiser in Sochi.

First up, the Shaunavon native was handed the responsibility of carrying the flag and leading the Canadian Olympic team into the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Games. Two weeks later, Hayley was helping lead the Canadian team again, this time as the women’s national team scored a dramatic overtime victory over their heated rivals from the United States. It marked the fourth straight gold medal for Hayley at the Winter Games. But the accomplishments didn’t end there for Hayley. Earlier in the day, it was announced that she had been elected to the International Olympic Committee’s athletes commission. Two new athletes are elected to the 12-member board at every Winter Games, succeeding those who are ending eight-year terms. Four athletes are elected at each Summer Olympics. Canadian Beckie Scott, a two-time Olympic medallist in cross-country skiing, has ended her eight-year term along with Finnish hockey player Saku Koivu. Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen was also elected with 1,087 athlete votes. Hayley received 758. Hayley has also represented Canada at the Summer Games in softball. She has now attended five straight Winter Olympic Games and has been a member of the national team since 1994. Still, the former Shaunavon Public School student hasn’t decided whether or not she will retire from the sport. “I don’t know and that’s the truth,” the 35-year-old forward told the Canadian Press. “I still love to play. I feel I have lots left in the tank. I would like to get into medicine at some point and there’s other things to do in life, but at this point I haven’t decided.”

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