"An athlete is an athlete, regardless of their gender, and they are as technically skilled, physically fit, and determined to perform"

Name: Hailey Thompson

Date of Birth: March 22, 1994

Hometown: Lihue, Hawaii

Sport: Whitewater Slalom Canoe

How many years training in canoe?

Five Years

How many days/week do you train in canoe?

5-6 days a week, from late March until October (in other words, when my training venue isn’t frozen)

Do you have a coach and/or a training group?

No.

Do you cross-train?

Yes. I weight lift and Nordic Ski in the off-season.

Do you coach /mentor others?

When I am at training camps with younger athletes, yes. I am a definite believer in the value of peer coaching.

Who is your closest rival?

Colleen Hickey.

Current/Prior year accomplishments:

2011 U.S. National Champion, 6th at 2010 World Championships, 3rd at 2010 Junior World Championships

Goals for 2012:

Win Olympic Trials in the category of Women’s Solo Canoe

Who is your role model?

Cathy Hearn, Joel McCune, Lindsey Van

What is your favorite music?

Bon Iver, Miike Snow, Jonsi, Phoenix…too many artist to name

How many years do you see yourself competing in canoe?

I really can’t say.

What is your message to the world regarding women in canoe?

One of the proponents of the Women’s Ski Jumping movement for equality once said, “We are humans first, and athletes second.” The simplicity of her statement eloquently summed up the plight of all women facing inequality in sport - refusing to let someone to pursue their passion due to their gender is nothing short of ignorant. An athlete is an athlete, regardless of their gender, and they are as technically skilled, physically fit, and determined to perform as they are capable of being while performing at an exceptionally high standard - I see no legitimate reason validating our exclusion from the Olympics.