Sports: Olympic Backstory - Chanda Gunn

image source: http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2005/11/30/PH2005113002239.jpg

Was surfing through the Olympics web page by NBC and I stumbled across the story of USA Women's Hockey goalie, Chanda Gunn. Excerpt:

Gunn was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 9. The affliction, which has caused her occasional seizures, forced her to give up sports deemed unsafe with the condition, such as swimming. It changed her life and was one of the reasons she pursued hockey.

Wow!

Talk about persistence in the face of an obstacle!

The biography also described how her hockey career nearly came to an end in her first year in college. Excerpt:

Gunn began her collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin, where she only played seven games before leaving the program to deal with her epilepsy. When she was ready to return to school, Wisconsin didn't have the room. "There weren't a lot of college hockey teams in the market for a goalie who had been in and out of the hospital," says Gunn, who opted for Northeastern.
..........
As a senior, she was named NCAA Sportswoman of the Year and finished her career as the school's all-time leader in saves and save percentage.

What an inspirational story!

She is a southern Californian from the OC (Orange County) in Huntington Beach who played street hockey and was a Los Angeles Kings hockey fan as a kid growing up.

On the web bio there are two short video clips where she shares her story. She has the All-American girl next door good looks and the presence of someone you would want your kids playing sports to listen and learn from.

NBC undoubtedly shot many times more of these features than will be shown on their coverage. But if the USA women get to the gold medal game and Chanda has been the goalie keeping the scores down, the rest of the nation will hear her remarkable story.

Speaking of All-American girl next door good looks, check out the photo shoot of the hot (!) team members of our ice-hockey squad.

UPDATE: Here is a local newspaper item on Chanda. Excerpt:

At home, Gunn is best known for her hockey clinics with the Cal Select girls team that practices at Skate Zone.

"The first things out Chanda [Gunn's] mouth is always do your best and be a good sportsman," said Melinda Koppel, whose daughter plays with the 14-and-under team. "She's great at giving girls words of encouragement. It's amazing what a giving, thoughtful person she is."

Figure skating coach Necia Kroger said there's always a void whenever Gunn is absent from the rink.

"She definitely has a presence around here," she said, while taking time out to watch her game Tuesday. "You don't get that caliber of a role model very often. She's incredibly humble, even with the kids."

Kroger said Gunn even made fans of the young figure skaters, an odd accomplishment in the ice world where skaters and hockey players enjoy a healthy rivalry.

"They're all totally freaking out that she's on television," Kroger said. "It's pretty funny to see figure skaters watching hockey."

And here is an item on the Epilepsy.com web page about Ms. Gunn. Excerpt:

As a person with epilepsy Gunn believes it is important for people with epilepsy to support one another and maintains that, “There’s no reason why a person with epilepsy can’t play sports or pursue their dreams.” She admits to being afraid at first of playing ice hockey because of the potential for having a seizure while on the ice. But, she says, “I’ve learned to live with it, the fear of the unknown, because I want to really live life and for me living means playing ice hockey.” She advises people with epilepsy to live their lives to the fullest while quoting Paul Cantalupo MD, “Love absolutely everything that ever happens in your life.”

In the era where athletes often come across as way too self-absorbed, it is so wonderful to read about such a terrific role model!

Am sure there will be lots of celebrating in Huntington Beach at the rink when she comes home from Turin!

Well done Chanda!