Canada Day 2012 will always be a special date for us at Canada Basketball:  that’s the day our Senior Women’s National Team secured a berth at the London Olympic Games. This series of Q&A’s with our national team players helps you get to know the inspiring women who are part of that team that will represent Canada proudly in London.

Hometown: Kitchener, Ontario

High School: Grand River Collegiate Institute

University:University of Nebraska

Pro Team: Bendigo Spirit (Australia)

Years with Canada Basketball: 11

Games with Canada Basketball: 144

Canada Basketball - What is your favorite Olympic memory?

Chelsea Aubry - The best memory is the way that we qualified!  It doesn’t get any better then to qualify on Canada Day and in the fashion that we did!  We never take the easy road and I think we all can look back and feel great pride on what we accomplished!

CB - Which team are you most looking forward to playing against in London?

CA - I would have to say either France or Brazil.  Both teams we have been close with.  Both their styles are just fun to play against! I feel we match up well with France.  Even though they are bigger than us, we use our speed and our physicality against them.  The Brazilians are just so spirited and energetic about the game of basketball that it’s always a joy to play against them!!  

CB - What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you and the team at these games?

CA - I think the biggest challenge will be the same challenges we have at every event - we need to take care of ourselves and each other.  We need to make sure we get the right amount of sleep, the right food, treatment etc., to stay healthy! But at the same time take in the whole experience because it’s going to be magical!!

CB - Do you have any pregame rituals? What are they?

CA - I like to dance around like a crazy person to Bon Jovi and most of the time my roommate Teresa joins in!!! :)

CB - Who is the teammate that you are most excited to see take the floor for the first Olympic game?  Why?

CA - I am excited for us all!! We all have taken different paths to this team and we all have had different setbacks that we've had to overcome to be on this team.  For everyone this is going to be special and unforgettable!!!

CB - What advice would you give to young athletes who are pursuing an Olympic dream?

CA - Commit!  Train hard but also enjoy it and have fun with it!!

CB - Tell us something special or unique about yourself that we might not know.

CA - Something that most don’t know is I used to be a rugby player!  I loved rugby, well let’s be honest I loved hitting people, and in high school I had to pick between basketball and rugby. I choose basketball, not only because I loved it, but also because rugby was not in the Olympic games! As it turns out in international basketball you get to hit people just as much:).

To read other, "Getting to Know Our Olympians," click the athletes names below:

Teresa Gabriele
Natalie Achonwa
Alisha Tatham
Michelle Plouffe
Tamara Tatham
Kim Smith
Shona Thorburn
Lizanne Murphy
Miranda Ayim
Courtnay Pilypaitis
Krista Phillips  

Below is the Canadian preliminary schedule, with the broadcast information.

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