Date of Birth:  November 6, 1981
	Place of Birth: Melville, SK
	Residence: Calgary, AB
Years on National Team:  3	Height:  N/A
	Weight: N/A

Since a very young age, Kerry Simpson was clearly a gifted athlete. She played basketball, volleyball, badminton and ran cross country -- all at a Provincial level in her native Saskatchewan. However, it was in speed skating that she showed the most promise. Not surprisingly, her equally athletic brother Blair also found success on blades -- at one time, he played for both Canada's U-18 hockey team while a prospect in the Western Hockey League.

When Simpson first became serious about speed skating at an elite level at 19, she spent a few years skating on the Canada Cup circuit, where she picked up her share of Top-10 results. But it wasn't until 2003 that Simpson made her huge breakthrough. At the Canada Games that year, she swept the gold medals in the 500m, 1000m, 1500m and 3000m. That was enough to get Skate Canada's brass interested.

By 2004, she was on the national team competing at the World Single Distance Championships, where she finished 22nd in the 1000m. That same year she would finish in eighth at a World Cup race and in third at the Canadian Sprint Championships.

At the Olympic qualifying event this past December, Simpson came third behind Shannon Rempel and Kim Weger in the 500m to earn her ticket to Turin. Considered one of the more superstitious skaters on the team, count on Simpson to give it her all as she participates in her first Olympic Games.





2006 Longtrackskating Coverage