“My goal is to be one of the first Olympic female canoeists.”

“My goal is to be one of the first Olympic female canoeists.”

Name: Haley Daniels

Date of Birth: December 14, 1990

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Sport: White Water Slalom Canoeing

How many years training in canoe?

I started paddling competitively nine years ago, which has included slalom K1, C1, and C2 along with K1 freestyle. My first Canadian National Championships paddling canoe was in 2007 where I won a gold medal in Junior Women’s C2. I have been paddling C1 as my primary event in international competitions since 2009, four years ago.

How many days/week do you train in canoe?

My training program occurs 6 days a week, year round. This includes on-water sessions in the spring, summer and fall. When the rivers turn to ice in Canada, I take part in National Team winter training camps associated with competitions down south.

Do you cross-train?

Cross-training is an integral part of my training program where I cross country ski for overall conditioning in the winter months, run and cycle year round for cardio, weight train for building muscle strength, yoga for building core strength, and kayaking to balance upper body muscle development.

Who is your closest rival?

My National Team mate Alexandra McGee is my closest competition in Canadian Women’s C1.

Prior year accomplishments:

International Performance:

2012 Pan American Championships, Foz Du Iguassu, Brazil

• 2nd C1 Women’s Slalom

2012 U23 World Championships, Wausau, Wisconsin, USA

• 8th C1 Women’s Slalom

2012 World Cup #5, Bratislava, Slovakia

• 12th C1 Women’s Slalom

2012 World Cup #4, Prague, Czech Republic

• 21st C1 Women’s Slalom

National Performances:

2012 Senior Canadian National Team Trials, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

• 1st C1 Women’s Slalom

2012 U23 Canadian National Team Trials, Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada

• 1st C1 Women’s Slalom

2012 Canadian National Championships, Valley Field, Quebec

• 1st U23 C1 Women’s Slalom

• 2nd Senior C1 Women’s Slalom

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

Michael Holroyd has been my high performance coach for seven years. He is the person who inspires me to give my best and provides a motivational environment that helps me attain realistic goals. In Alberta I train in the High Performance Program along with other National Team athletes.

Michal Staniszewski is the Canadian National Slalom Whitewater Coach and he is an excellent technical mentor.

I train mostly out of Calgary on the Bow River and in the Rocky Mountains on the Kananaskis River.

Goals for next season:

• 1st place at Canadian National Championships/National Team Trials

• 1st place at Pan American Championships

• Top 5 at 2013 U23 World Championships

• Top 10 at 2013 World Cup Series

• Top 10 at 2013 Senior World Championships

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

Women canoe paddlers should have the right to participate in the Olympic Games.

Who is your role model?

2012 Men’s C1 Slalom Olympic Gold Medalist Tony Estanguet.

What is your favorite music?

Dub Step and Electro Step to pump me up for my races!

How many years do you see yourself competing in canoe?

My passion is to canoe and kayak. I would like to compete for as long as I am able to. I also plan to compete in international competitions for the next 4 years where my goal is to be one of the first Olympic female canoeists.