As I said, more funding is needed, especially right before Olympic year, because a lot of athletes are into full-time training. You can't do anything else the year before an Olympics. We're lucky that we relocate to Calgary and Hockey Canada covers our food and living expenses. If anything, the federal government could focus on the year before the Olympics to make sure those athletes can train 100% and be focused. That's a huge year for us as athletes.
It's very tough. What you guys don't know, you don't see the stuff going on behind the scenes, where it's December 20 and there are 27 girls on the national team and by the end of the day, there are only 20. For seven people their season and Olympics dreams end right there. Other athletes don't have their finals until the new year. It's a very stressful time for athletes because they don't know who is going where.
The federal government definitely can help alleviate the financial stress. They could assist with the medical attention these athletes need. The year before the Olympics your body is taking a beating and you're trying to compete for a spot. I always tell people the Olympics was a breeze. Winning a gold medal is nothing. The most challenging thing in my life was getting on that Olympic team. I think that's what most athletes will tell you as well.