Cristy Nurse

Biography

In five world championship appearances as a member of the Canadian women’s eight, Cristy Nurse has yet to miss the podium, winning three silver medals in 2010, 2011 and 2014 to go with two bronze medals in 2013 and 2015. She also added a silver medal with the four in 2013 and finished sixth in the pair in 2015, which qualified the Canadian boat for Rio 2016. Nurse was named Rowing Canada’s 2015 Senior Athlete of the Year for her efforts. Nurse missed the chance to compete at London 2012 when she sustained herniated discs shortly before the Games. Following successful rehab, she has learned how to manage that injury to continue competing. In her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, Nurse and the eight advanced to the A final, finishing fifth.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Jeffrey and Kenda Nurse… Siblings Lee, Jodey and Troy… Getting into the Sport: Started rowing at age 19… Had played a year of varsity basketball at the University of Guelph but was looking for a new sport and new challenge… Rowing had always interested her as an Olympic fan but it wasn’t available in her hometown… During her first summer, former New Zealand national team coach Paul Westbury told her she had Olympic potential… Outside Interests: Grew up on a dairy farm which she still tries to get home to as often as possible to help out… Split her time as a youth competing in various sports and showing cattle and horses at competitions across the country… Graduated from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law in 2013; will sit her bar exams and pursue articling post-Rio 2016… Graduated from the University of Guelph with Honours Bachelor of Arts in 2008… Odds and Ends: Avoids having a strict pre-competition ritual because of the diverse venues and rapidly changing conditions in rowing… Always travels with a well-stocked e-reader…