Daria Gaiazova

Biography

Daria Gaiazova had the unusual opportunity to compete at two straight ‘home’ Olympic Winter Games. After making her Olympic debut at Vancouver 2010, she returned to her native Russia for Sochi 2014 while wearing the maple leaf.

Gaiazova and her family immigrated to Montreal in 1999 when she was 15. She was first recognized as a member of the Canadian team in 2002, but despite being named to the World Junior Championship team she was unable to compete because she was still awaiting her Canadian citizenship.  Since then she has represented Canada at the World Junior, World U-23 and World Ski Championships.

Gaiazova made her World Cup debut in October 2005. She earned her first World Cup medal in December 2010 when she and Chandra Crawford won bronze in the team sprint in Dusseldorf. She repeated the feat with Perianne Jones in February 2013, finishing third at the World Cup that also served as the Olympic test event in Sochi.

GETTING TO KNOW…

Getting Into Sport: Began skiing at age 12… Does not come from a sports-oriented family, instead attracted to cross-country skiing by the social aspect and following her friends into the sport… Outside Interests: Volunteers with the Community Care Seniors Walking Program in Banff… Participates in KidSport fundraising and programs as an athlete ambassador… Enjoys camping and hiking… Passionate about cooking healthy, wholesome meals… Odd and Ends: Nickname: Dasha…  Earned her Bachelor of Science from Waterloo University in 2009… In 2010 completed the Dale Carnegie Communications program in Calgary… In the midst of a Bachelor of Commerce at McGill University (currently on hold)…