Diane Cummins |
Diane Cummins |
Diane Cummins |
Same girls...different track. It’s that simple really. And it’s that simplicity which kept Diane Cummins competing at the top of her game whether at the Olympic Games or at the Victoria International Track Classic.
A middle distance runner born in South Africa, Diane competed in running sports like track, cross country, netball and field hockey as a youngster. Her family moved to Canada in 1994 where, on 10 occasions, she won gold at the Canadian national track championships in the 800 metre.
Diane has run an outstanding 26 times under 2:00 minutes in the 800m. She won a gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio, silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. She has maintained a world-class ranking almost four times longer than the average athlete.
Diane followed Charmaine Crooks as Canadian record holder and the second Canadian to break the two-minute barrier in the two lap 800m distance with her 1:58.39 in 2001.
“I think growing up into my adult years, I always aspired to be like Charmaine because she was the great Canadian 800m runner, and also Vicky Pounds, one of my best friends,” says
Diane. “I think everything I’ve done in sport has led to a relationship with someone and a connection. The goals have always been there for me to achieve, but more than anything I competed in the sport with a lot of love and a lot of friendships and that’s what counts.”
And it doesn’t stop there. Proving there is life after international competition, at the America’s Masters Games held in Vancouver in 2016, Cummins - who now lives in Missoula, Montana - helped her relay team win master’s gold and break the 4 x 800m world record for the 40-44 age category.
Over her 15+ year career, Diane has inspired hundreds, if not thousands of future middle distance runners. A true believer in clean sport and an outspoken advocate for equality and accountability, Diane is a genuine role model and mentor to the many middle distance runners who hope to follow in her footsteps.
Over a long career with many highlights, some accomplishments stand out more than others for Diane.
“Obviously the medals, for me, are a highlight. That’s something that proves you worked hard and achieved something, but my highlights through the sport have definitely been more emotional,” she continues. “I remember, in 2002, when I won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, I had no idea where my dad or my family were sitting in the stands. I looked down for a second and looked back up and looked straight at him, one of 40,000 people, and he came down to the track and gave me a hug.
“The highlights for me have been really the connections I’ve made with people. Every single coach I’ve had, I appreciate. Sport has always been a way for me to connect with people.”
SPONSORED BY MANN, MOULSON & CO.
Alex Nelson |
Alex Nelson |
Alex Nelson |
Born in 1946, Alex is a proud member of the Musgamagwx Dzawada’enuwx First Nations in Kincome Inlet. At age seven, he was taken away from family and community and became a seven-year product and survivor of St. Michaels Residential School in Alert Bay. Today, he maintains a strong family foundation with his wife Nella of 45 years, daughter Natasha, grandsons Gigalis and Braden and great-grandson Marcus. His strong cultural background has been reinforced through his father Henry Nelson’s Chieftainship and by the Nelsons’ past four Potlatches. Alex is also a Hamatcha Cedar Man Dancer.
Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Leisure Studies from the University of Victoria. He is an Elder and Senior Advisor to the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council, and helped create the then-Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Strategy for BC (the first strategy of its kind in Canada).
Past Executive Director of the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Alex is a founder of the Aboriginal Sports & Recreation Association of BC - at that time the only “recognized” Aboriginal sport organization in Canada. He is also a founder of the National Aboriginal Sports Circle and was the first Chair and three-time President of the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Council. He has served as Aboriginal Team BC Chef de Mission for the 1993 and 1995 North American Indigenous Games, Board Member of the Native Participation Committee for the 1994 Commonwealth Games and member of the Minister's Sport & Recreation Advisory Council of BC.
One of his greatest and proudest achievements was helping organize the 1997 NAIG in Victoria which drew over 5,000 athletes, 3,000 cultural performers and 2,500 volunteers on a budget of only $2.5 million!
Alex is also a Level 1 Soccer Coach with 40+ years’ experience coaching youth and adult Aboriginal soccer teams. He helped expand the Victoria T-Bird Soccer Club to include women and five youth age groups. As an athlete, he has received many All-Star awards including gold medals in Soccer at the 2009 and 2016 BC Senior Games and he currently plays on a "65 & Over" team in the Vancouver Island Soccer League.
Alex knows that connection, ceremony and a sense of belonging are important to children so he has dedicated his life to helping youth as a founder of the Kwaguilth Urban Suicide Prevention & Intervention Group, where he has conducted community and self-help suicide prevention workshops for 18 years. He also lectures on Aboriginal issues to universities, high schools, communities and at conferences.
Other awards Alex has received include the Queen's 125th Commemorative Medal for Community Services, the 1998 C-FAX Runner-up Sports Person Community Award, the 1998 Victoria Sports Leader of the Year Award and City of Victoria 2002 Honourary Citizen. He also was a 2010 Olympic Torch Relay carrier.
Sport has always been a vehicle for freedom and healing for Alex: "My responsibility is to give to the next generation what sport has given to me.”
SPONSORED BY ISPARC
