Tuesday, September 23

Peking (北京) Vol.4

More pics from Beijing, China, hope you like 'em.
Dita
























Kool Kat

I want him!
This cat and myself would get along well, he knows how to act.

Cat Just Chills
Cat Just Chills


He looks like he knows how to cook too. Heathcliff's just waiting on an apron and a grill.
P

Pickering News Interview

Sidebar Interview coupled with the story on my COC Election (posted separately below)

Source: newsdurhamregion.com
Posted Online: September 18, 2008
By Line: Al Rivett

Fast Facts
When asked how she's feeling right now, you could almost see Perdita Felicien's face light up through the phone line.
"I'm so happy right now; things are awesome," she said.

"In the summer, I made the decision I made (to bypass the Beijing Olympics due to a foot injury) and I have to live with it. In the back of my mind, I thought, 'Did I make the right decision?' A couple of months removed from that, I can say, 'Absolutely, I made the right decision'."

Her comments are based on her continued success in her rehabilitation from her stress fracture to her left foot, which has responded well to continued treatment. And, now, with her ankle fully recovered, she's putting a six-days-a-week foundation of conditioning together in advance of actual hurdles training, which she hopes to start in Champagne, Ill., possibly in late October.

"My main focus has always been my health and, finally, I'm at a place where (my ankle) can handle the demands on it. I'm having to get fit and conditioned. I know how hard it will be; I know how much effort it's going to take. It will probably take me a couple months to get that conditioning back...The main thing is re-educating my muscles. I'm not thinking about hurdling until I can sprint like crazy."

In the name of ramping up her fitness level, she's training at various venues throughout the GTA, all of which have held historical significance in her track and field career, including her alma mater, Pine Ridge Secondary School, along with Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, where she won provincial high school medals in track and field.

Will she compete in the international indoor season? Felicien says it's possible, as her training is definitely ahead of schedule.

"I will make that call when I know where my fitness level is. It's looking like I will do indoors."

Her long-range plan, however, is to be race-ready next summer to compete in the 2009 IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Berlin.

While she didn't compete in Beijing, she was there nonetheless as a track and field commentator for Canadian Olympic broadcaster CBC. She noted being there as a commentator gave her a new perspective on journalists.

"They were a great bunch to work with and I didn't realize how gruelling it is. I have a new appreciation for members of the media. It was a great experience. I had the best seat in the house."

---

Asked about fellow Canadian hurdler and Whitby native Priscilla Lopes-Schliep's bronze-medal performance at Beijing, Felicien couldn't have been more pleased for her Durham Region colleague.

"I think she did a great job. The field was wide open for her. Kudos to her; this was her moment. I wish her nothing but the best. It will be exciting for the nation to watch and follow the both of us."

---

Felicien is chronicling her journey back to international competition through her new blog. It can be accessed at perditafelicien.blogspot.com/.

Perdita chosen by peers to Athletes' Council

Local feature on my election to the COC Athlete's Council

Source: newsdurhamregion.com
Posted Online: September 18, 2008
By Line: Al Rivett

Pickering hurdler, Olympian to begin four-year term this fall
PICKERING -- Pickering hurdler and two-time world champion Perdita Felicien will be doing more than just competing within the Canadian Olympic movement.

Felicien was one of six accomplished athletes - including four medallists from the Beijing Games - elected by their peers to the Canadian Olympic Committee's Athletes' Council, an internal advisory body designed to give athletes a voice on the COC executive committee and board of directors. The elections were held following the Games last month.

The two-time Olympian considers it an absolute honour to represent her peers on the committee.

"The committee's not just there to be there; you really can have changes and that's why I submitted my name," said Felicien, 28. "It's an awesome responsibility...an opportunity to give back. We're going to try and make it better for generations to come."

Also elected to the committee were rower Iain Brambell (2008 bronze medallist), rower David Calder (silver), rower Adam Kreek (gold), kayaker Adam van Koeverden (silver), and swimmer Rick Say.

The six summer athletes elected this year came from a pool of 11 candidates. Summer athletes from Canada were encouraged to run as candidates for the Athletes' Council. To be eligible, candidates must have competed at either the 2008 or 2004 Olympic Games, or have competed at the 2007 Pan American Games.

For her four-year term on the committee, Felicien says she and other committee members will serve as liaisons between athletes and the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Among the issues she suspects the committee will address over its four-year tenure is increasing the level of funding for athletes. She also mentioned the criteria for selection of athletes by the various sports bodies in Canada to the Olympics as another issue.

In terms of funding, Felicien says the recent spike in funding for Olympic sports, as well as the new process of awarding of money for medals, will be good for Canadian Olympic athletes, and should produce medal-winning results in the near and long term.

"We're going to see the benefits of these things in London (in 2012)," she said.

Felicien said she decided to let her name stand for nomination after recalling her first Olympics in Sydney in 2000 where there was some discontent among the Canadian athletes there.

"I remember at the 2000 Games there was some murmuring and grumbling. I didn't want to be an athlete who complains and grumbles. I want to do something about it."

The six members officially begin their four-year term this fall. Felicien says she expects to find out details about future meetings. She suspects many meetings will be conducted through tele-conferencing throughout the year, although she expects the committee will meet in person a few times each year.

"This is the first time I've been nominated, so I don't know much right now. I know that it won't conflict with my training."

The Athletes' Council is expected to meet for the first time this fall. There, the six summer Olympic athletes will join current winter athlete members Cassie Campbell (hockey), Deidra Dionne (freestyle ski), Alexa Loo (snowboard) and Jeff Pain (skeleton), ex-officio members Beckie Scott and Charmaine Crooks as well as Pan American sports representative Jaret Llewellyn (water ski) and Victoria Winter (equestrian).

Peking(北京) Pics Vol.3

The third installment of pics from the Olympics in China, I can get camera happy!