I am an athlete, every aspect of my life is deticated to being fastest, strongest and most effective at whatever I do, I have taken a very big step as an athlete in deticating 100% of my time and focus to Bobsleigh for the Province of Ontario and eventually Canada. I need as much support as I can get in any way I can, here is my story:

I was always healvily involved in sports as a kid participating in every school team and even more uncommon activities like motocross, horseback riding, snowboarding and portaging. I was always overly-competative which teachers, friends and even my own parents saw as concerning; however, I always strived to look at those around me and find a way to be better; I had nothing to prove to anyone but used the influcences in those around me to better myself not only as an athlete but as a person as well.

I started playing competative volleyball at 14 and fought to be the most skilled at my position because quite honestly I wanted to be on the court at all times and have a role in winning games, tournaments, and championships. I was one of the shorter players on my team so as the net got higher my opponents got taller I had to adapt to various positions depending on my teammates, as well as the competition. During rehabilitation training for a bad ankle injury my trainer would joke "Rianna you're pretty strong, and no offense a little to short to play volleyball, you should try out for the Olympic Bobsleigh team"..... 

Well, after 8 years of volleyball and going into my second year of college I approached that same trainer and said "Lets go for it, I want a shot at the Olympics, I don't care how long it takes, I want to learn to Bobsleigh".

The Latest:

I began training in September of 2013 and after 2 selection camps held at McMaster University I was invited to be apart of Team Ontario for this coming 2014/2015 season; this means I would drop out of school (a 3 year advanced marketing diploma) to move to the U.S. Olympic Training Centre in Lake Placid NY in just a few short weeks. I took this process seriously and for the past year have been a full time student, worked at General Motors, prepared meals, studied, rested and mentally prepared myself for what was to come next...

I have taken this new journey head on, choosing the path less followed and have to fully comit myself as a full time athlete in order to use my detication to learning to become the best Bobsleigh pilot in the Province... Country...the world. 

I am young, ambitious and fearless, I just need people to believe in me as much as I believe I can. Whether you know me on a personal level or not you will be a driving force to my success through any support you are willing to give me. Add me as a friend on facebook, follow me on instagram and twitter or send me an email; I want to share my journey and feed inspiration to the lives of those who know me. 

Rianna 

rianna.mcneill@gmail.com