Perdita Felicien

Member
Athletes’ Commission

Perdita Felicien has been an elected member of the COC’s Athletes’ Commission since the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Felicien is a world champion hurdler who has been named to three Canadian Olympic teams. She competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games (reaching the final in the latter) but in July 2008 was forced to withdraw from the team for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games due to a stress fracture she suffered earlier that year. She travelled to Beijing as an analyst with CBC.

Felicien remains one of the world’s top athletes in the 100 metre hurdles and has enjoyed a successful career. In 2003, she was named top female athlete at the Canadian Sport Awards. That year, she captured a gold medal at the World Championships – becoming Canada’s first female athlete to win a medal at this level in athletics. In 2003 she added a gold medal at the Pan American Games – and was named outstanding Canadian athlete of the year (track) and the NCAA female track athlete of the year.

The seven-time Canadian champion in 100 metre hurdles still holds the indoor record in the 60 metre hurdles after defeating hurdling great Gail Devers at the 2004 World Indoor Championships in Budapest. She had a very successful 2007 season, winning a silver medal at the World Championships and adding another silver at the Pan American Games.

Felicien is an athlete ambassador for the non-profit group Right To Play and a United Nations Canada Sport-in-a-Box Ambassador and RBC After-School Program Partner. A motivational speaker, she earned a bachelor of science from the University of Illinois, where she continues to serve as a youth and athlete mentor. She is the school’s most decorated athlete with 10 All-American nominations, three NCAA titles and four Big 10 championships.