From the Olympic podium to the red carpet, seven Canadian Olympians and two Paralympians will be attending the 2009 JUNO Awards.

Jeremy Wotherspoon, 1998 Olympic silver medallist in long track speed skating, and Mellisa Hollingsworth, 2006 Olympic bronze medallist in skeleton are thrilled to be not only attending the JUNOS, but also presenting musicians with awards.

"I'm pretty excited," Wotherspoon tells CTV.ca. "It's a different opportunity than anything I've done in the past."

He's most looking forward to meeting musicians he's seen on TV and heard on the radio. "I hope I get a chance to see what makes them successful in what they do."

Even though speed skating and singing might seem as different as night and day, Wotherspoon believes there is common ground in what athletes and musicians do.

"I think there are similarities in how we work. There are a lot of similar ways to find inspiration and motivation and figuring out what we need to be successful," he says.

Though Wotherspoon prefers to train without music, he's a huge music fan. "When I'm skating, I like to focus on my thoughts and on what I'm trying to execute, but I love listening to music at home when I'm relaxing," he says.

Wotherspoon and Hollingsworth will be walking the etalk red carpet with fellow Olympians and Vancouver 2010 contenders Emily Brydon (alpine skiing), Steve Omischl (freestyle skiing -- aerials), Ashleigh McIvor (freestyle skiing -- ski cross), Charles Hamelin (short track speed skating) and Denny Morrison (long track speed skating).

The sporty seven will be joined by Paralympians Lauren Woolstencroft and Karolina Wisniewska (alpine skiing).

"I don't really know what to expect," Wotherspoon laughs.

Music meets the Olympics

Canadian music plays a vital role in Canadian Olympic athletes' preparations for Vancouver 2010.

Hollingsworth stays focused and relaxed before a race by listening to eight-time JUNO Award-winner and 2009 JUNO performer Sarah McLachlan.

Omischl's iPod features JUNO Award-winners Sam Roberts and Simple Plan, who Omischl listens to while training.

McIvor listens to Five-time JUNO Award-winner Nelly Furtado to get fired-up before racing.

Morrison dials down after a big race with two-time JUNO Award-winner Hawksley Workman, while Brydon gets energized during her workouts by tuning in to 14-time JUNO Award-winning rock group, The Tragically Hip.

More about the JUNO Olympians

Mellisa Hollingsworth: Skeleton

  • Bronze medalist at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin.
  • Won four medals (1 gold, 1 silver and two bronze) during the 2008-09 World Cup season.
  • A favourite activity to relax away from the track is to ride her horse, Rascal. She barrel races recreationally and has been a Calgary Stampede parade celebrity guest.
  • Her cousin, Ryan Davenport, runs Davenport Sleds that manufactures many of the sleds used by the athletes on the World Cup, including Mellisa's.
  • She has a street (Mellisa Avenue) named after her in her hometown of Eckville, Alberta.

Jeremy Wotherspoon: Long Track Speed Skating

  • 1998 Olympic Winter Games silver medallist in 500m.
  • Broke upper left arm during the first World Cup of 2008-09 in Berlin, causing him to miss the rest of the season.
  • Became all-time winningest male long track speed skater in Dec. 2003 with a 500m victory at the World Cup in Salt Lake City (49th career win), surpassing Germany's Uwe-Jens Mey who had 48.
  • 13 overall World Cup titles.
  • Has set the 500m world record three times in his career, most recently on Nov. 9, 2007 in Salt Lake City (34.03); the record still stands.

Emily Brydon: Alpine Skiing

  • Two-time Olympian (Salt Lake City 2002 and Turin 2006).
  • Best Olympic result was 9th in super-G in Turin.
  • Hometown is Fernie, BC.
  • Winner of seven career World Cup medals.
  • One of Canada's "Speed Queens", a title shared with teammates Kelly VanderBeek and Britt Janyk.
  • Athlete ambassador for "Right to Play" since 2005.
  • Founded the Emily Brydon Youth Foundation in 2006 to provide financial assistance to youth in BC's Elk Valley.

Steve Omischl: Freestyle Skiing -- Aerials

  • Earned a silver medal in aerials at the 2009 International Ski Federation (FIS) World Freestyle Skiing Championship.
  • Won the 2005 FIS World Freestyle Skiing Championship in aerials.
  • Won the FIS Overall World Cup Freestyle Skiing title in 2004 and 2008.
  • Won the FIS Overall World Cup Aerials title in 2004, 2007 and 2008.
  • Joined Emily Brydon, Clara Hughes and Mellisa Hollingsworth on a 2008 trip to Ghana as part of the athlete-based international humanitarian organization "Right To Play."
  • Photography is what Omischl refers to as his "artistic outlet."

Ashleigh McIvor: Freestyle Skiing -- Ski Cross

  • Won the 2009 FIS World Freestyle Skiing Championship in ski cross on March 2, 2009.
  • A native of Whistler, BC, McIvor started skiing when she was 2 years old.
  • McIvor is currently building a cabin in Pemberton, BC, with her boyfriend.
  • Between the ages of 14 and 20, McIvor estimates that she has dislocated her right shoulder "about 20 times"; in 2008, she had surgery to finally correct her shoulder problems.

Charles Hamelin: Short Track Speed Skating

  • Member of the men's 5000m relay that won silver at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin.
  • Crowned the 2009 World Champion in the 500m on March 7.
  • During the 2008-09 season, he qualified for the Vancouver 2010 Games based on International Skating Union qualification criteria.
  • Won eight individual medals during 2008-09 World Cup competition.
  • His father Yves is the National Program team director for short track speed skating and his brother Fran�ois competes on the national team as well.

Denny Morrison: Long Track Speed Skating

  • Won a silver medal at the Turin 2006 Winter Games in the team pursuit event.
  • Won eight individual World Cup medals during the 2008-09 season.
  • Won silver in the 1000m and bronze in the 1500m at the 2009 International Skating Union Single Distances Championship for long track speed skating held at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
  • Enjoys collecting beer mugs when he travels on the World Cup circuit.

Lauren Woolstencroft: Para-Alpine Skiing

  • Won the 2009 Crystal Globe as the overall Para-Alpine downhill champion in the ladies standing category for the third year in a row.
  • As of March 14, 2009 had won 15 gold medals during the 2008-09 season, winning 11 on the World Cup circuit and four during the 2009 IPC World Championships.
  • Earned her electrical engineering degree at the University of Victoria, and now works for BC Hydro.

Karolina Wisniewska: Para-Alpine Skiing

  • Won two silver medals in the ladies' standing alpine events at her first Paralympic Winter Games in 1998 held in Nagano.
  • At the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, she won medals in all four alpine disciplines, becoming the first Canadian athlete to win four medals in a single Paralympic Winter Games.
  • Member of the Canadian Para-Alpine ski team that made history by winning the Nations Cup overall points title for the first time in 2008-09.

The JUNOS air on March 29 at 9 p.m. ET on CTV. Click here for the full broadcast schedule.