Heather Purnell gained a spot on the Olympic team by placing fourth all around at the Olympic trials in July. Purnell helped Canada to the team bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, team silver at the 2003 Pan Am Games and 11th spot at the world championships last year which assured Canada a full women’s squad for the Games.
Purnell has athletics in her genes. Her father Ted Purnell played in the CFL with the Ottawa Rough Riders. Her mother Gini was a professional squash and golf player. Her sister Ashley is a national level sprinter currently studying and competing at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
‘’My family got me in sport very young,’’ said Purnell. ‘’They understand how hard I work and what I do.’’
