Two-time gold medalist inspires on and off the bobsled track

Two-time gold medalist Kaillie Humphries signs an autograph for a fan at the Calgary International Airport

One of the enduring memories of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi is the nervous faces of the bobsled team of Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse turning to unbridled exuberance as they come to the realization that they will repeat as Olympic gold medalists.

The smile on Kaillie’s face was a permanent fixture for more than a week following the victory. The Calgarian was beaming during Olympic interviews, while hoisting the Canadian flag alongside Moyse in the closing ceremony, and when making her way down the escalator at the Calgary International Airport to a swarm of family, friends and fans.

For Kaillie, the Olympic dream began at an early age.

“Seven years old is the first time I really remember it” recollects Kaillie. “I remember watching the ‘92 Olympics in Barcelona and watching Mark Tewksbury. He was the inspiration that started it all off for me, the look on his face and the pride and the passion.”

Kaillie began her pursuit of Olympic greatness in ski racing before realizing, at the age of 16, that she was unlikely to succeed as an alpine racer.

“So it was either going to be bobsleigh or speed skating that I was going to try first,” said Kaillie. “Bobsleigh just happened to be the very first thing. They had a talent identification camp at Talisman (Centre) and so we went and tried it out. My dad took me and it's kind of history.”

“It's just kind of fallen into place.”

While Kaillie’s bobsleigh success appears to have been effortless, Don Wilson, CEO of Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, says the two-time gold medalist experienced obstacles during her journey.

“She went through a difficult time in 2006 where she did not make the team as a brakeman,” said Wilson. “Obviously, she’s an incredibly focused young lady who decided that's never going to happen again.”

Wilson says Kaillie continued her tireless pursuit of success on the track and by 2010 her efforts were rewarded with Olympic gold.

Kaillie admits being left on the sidelines during the 2006 Turin games was a tough pill to swallow.

“Being ranked second in Canada and then, four days before a competition, due to political reasons you're not racing,” recollects Kaillie. “You're sitting there and there's nothing you can do about it.”

The Turin experience prompted Kaillie to alter her focus. The former brakeman moved into the sled’s driver’s seat and she never looked back.

Wilson says Kaillie inspires everyone around her to be better.

“Kaillie makes sure that we're elevated to a new level,” said Wilson. “We need to make sure that we meet her expectations.”

For her perseverance of her Olympic dreams, Kaillie Humphries is this week’s Inspiring Albertan.

With files from CTV's Darrel Janz