Mathew Bell
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Sport: Cycling

Mathew Bell grew up in Toronto, Ontario, and has been riding bikes all his life. Originally, he started biking to stay in shape for the winter snowboard season, but after his father convinced him to start road racing at 18, he has never looked back. He is a two-time provincial time trial champion, has competed numerous times at national championships and hopes to one day race the Tour de France. He spends 25 hours a week cycling and at the gym. Support from the QUEST FOR GOLD LOTTERY has allowed him to race full-time and compete at more international events.

Jamie Adjetey-Nelson
Hometown: Windsor, Ontario
Sport: Athletics     Event: Decathlon

When Jamie was 17 years old, he competed in the Decathlon at the 2002 Ontario Championships. The opportunity to travel across Canada attracted him to track and field. Experiencing different provinces was exciting, and now he is travelling the world, experiencing different countries. His accomplishments include earning sixth place at the 2nd World Youth Championships in Debrecen, Hungary; second in the 4x400m and eighth in long jump at the Pan American Junior Championship; third at the NACAC U23 Championship in Sherbrooke, Quebec; sixth at the NACAC Combined Events Championship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; ninth at the World Student Games 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand; sixth at the World Student Games 2009 in Belgrade, Serbia; National Junior Long Jump Champion 2003; National Senior Long Jump Champion 2006; four-time National Senior Decathlon Medalist 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008; four-time Canadian University Pentathlon Champion (former record holder) 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009; and 2005 Canadian University Long Jump Champion.

Jamie's goal is to medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. He trains for 40–50 hours a week. "QUEST FOR GOLD has allowed me to attain equipment for my training such as pole vault poles and the numerous footwear I have in my event. The hours I put into training is like a full-time job, and the money helps me by allowing me to focus more on my training."

Jessalyn Kay Walkey
Hometown: Cheltenham, Ontario
Sport: Field Hockey     Position: Forward

Jessalyn started playing ice hockey at age six, but in grade nine, at St. John's-Kilmarnock school, she was introduced to the game of field hockey. In grade 10, she narrowed her focus to field hockey, and by grade 11, she led her high school team to their first OFSSA win, followed by another win in her grade 12 year. In the fall of 2008, Jessalyn joined the University of Guelph Gryphons and travelled to Victoria, B.C., for her first CIS Championships. Her accomplishments included OUA rookie of the year, OUA first team all-star, CIS rookie of the year, CIS second team all-star, and MVP of the 2008 CIS Championship. In January 2009, Jessalyn became involved with the national team and travelled with the team to Dublin, Ireland, where she received her first international cup. Since then, she has travelled with the team to Bermuda for the Pam Am Cup Tournament; Kazan, Russia, for the Champions Challenge II tournament; and Chile for a test series as a starting forward.

Competitions she's participated in with Team Canada include the 2010 Chile Test Series; 2009 FIH Champions Challenge II, Russia (6th); 2009 Pan American Cup, Bermuda (5th); 2009 Ireland Tour. Other competitions she's played in include the 2009 Senior Nationals (2nd); 2009 U19 Indoor Nationals (1st); 2008 U19 Nationals (3rd); 2007 U19 Nationals (1st); 2007 Senior Nationals (3rd); 2007 U19 Indoor Nationals; 2007 California Cup (1st); and 2006 U16 Nationals.

Rick Ball
Hometown: Orillia, Ontario
Sport: Athletics     Event: Marathon

Rick began running in 2007 and is a carded athlete with Athletics Canada. After trying out a new carbon fibre running prosthesis, he felt good about being able to run so fast. In 2008, he was named Orillia Athlete of the Year and, in 2009, was nominated for Ontario Male Disabled Athlete of the Year. In 2009, Rick set three world records for single-leg amputee in the 10k, half-marathon and marathon distances. In 2010, he set his fourth world record, running under three hours at the Canadian Marathon Championships in Ottawa, qualifying him for the Worlds. His long-term goals include competing at the International Paralympic Committee World Championships in New Zealand in 2011 and the Paralympic Games in England in 2012. After that, he would like to get involved with coaching and mentoring others into the sport and to continue giving motivational talks at schools. Rick trains for approximately 20 hours per week.

QUEST FOR GOLD LOTTERY funding has given Rick the ability to take more time off of work in order to train and attend events.

Sarah Wells
Hometown: Unionville, Ontario
Sport: Athletics     Event: 400m hurdles

When her high school coach and teacher asked her to try out for the track team so he could train her for the hurdles, Sarah at first resisted but ultimately agreed and, within a year of training, made her first national team, the 2005 World Youth Team.

Sarah's competitions include World Youth 2005; World Juniors 2006; Pan Am Juniors 2007; and World Juniors 2008. Her accomplishments include being a three-time National Junior 400m Champion and 2007 National 400m Hurdler Champion. Sarah is currently the first-ranked 400m hurdler in Canada and ninth all-time fastest Canadian 400m hurdler (56.85).

Sarah's long-term goals include participating in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and achieving a world top-10 ranking. Sarah trains for approximately 20 hours a week. "QUEST FOR GOLD, as a student, has had a great impact on my ability to continue to focus on training without having to factor in a part-time job to help pay for all of university's expenses. It has allowed for access to some of the greatest performance services offered and aids in athletes' development, not only athletically but holistically."