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: London, Ontario

High School: Saunders Secondary School

University: Pepperdine University

Pro Team: Istanbul University (Turkey)

Years with Canada Basketball: 7

Games with Canada Basketball: 67

Canada Basketball - What is your favorite Olympic memory?

Miranda Ayim - This may sound strange, but my favorite part has been the struggle to get to this point. Of course, it's easier to say that now, looking back objectively on everything that's happened over the past couple of years, but without those series of disappointments, that moment on July 1st, 2012 wouldn't have been so sweet.

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

MA - I'm looking forward to playing Brazil in London. We didn't have our best game against them last year at the Americas qualifier in Colombia, so I'd like to see our team have a second chance to prove how good we are against a strong South American team like them.

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

MA -The biggest challenge at the Games will be to tune out the extra activity going on around us. There's so much to see and do and experience at the Olympics. Of course, we'll be taking it all in and enjoying this once (or twice, or thrice) in a lifetime event, but we need to stay as focused as we've been all summer on our road to get to the Olympics.

Canada Basketball - Do you have any pregame rituals? What are they?

MA -I usually have a pre game nap (time permitting), get up and have a shower so I feel fresh and ready to go, and brush my teeth. The big part of my ritual, however, is doing my hair and putting on some mascara while listening to upbeat music. I mix up my music depending on what I feel that day, but I generally pre-game I listen to rap artists like Drake, Lil Wayne but on other days I'll listen to my 70s/80s mix.   My motto is "look good, feel good, play good" :)

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

MA -I'm sure this will be everyone's answer, but I'm most excited to see Teresa take the floor for our first Olympic games. She's waited so long for this day and has been so dedicated to the team and Canada Basketball. She's an incredibly hard worker and bears it all with a quiet grace that I find inspiring.

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

MA -Believe in yourself. It sounds cliché, but it's so true. If you're thinking about pursuing an Olympic dream, you probably already know it's going to take hard work, perseverance, and all the other qualities people always talk about. But for me - and I know this applies to many athletes - having confidence in yourself and your abilities is what will take you over the edge. If you doubt what you can achieve, you're holding yourself back.

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

MA -Well, my teammates already know this and tease me about it but, I love music (all kinds!) and it doesn't take much to get me dancing. I'll dance to anything, even the rhythmic warning beep that comes from a fridge left open! If you watch closely, you might even be able to catch a little shimmy in our warm ups before the games.

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

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

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

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