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The Daily OrangeYear in Sports | Conflicted ambition: Jillian Drouin is close to making the Olympics. But her politics have made things complicated
By Brian Tahmosh
Posted: 4/17/08, 10:25 PM EST Section: Sports
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She is an athlete and a political activist; two lives, distinctly different and clearly separate.
Until now.
After scoring 5,890 points in the heptathlon at the Big East championships last year, the senior from Ontario sits just 110 points away from qualifying for the Canadian Olympic Team that is heading to Beijing this summer. The 6,000 points needed is a score she and her coaches believe is attainable in the qualifying period between May 25 and July 6.
But the games Drouin has dreamed of competing in since she was a child have already been marred by political activism months before they are scheduled to begin. The Olympic torch route to China has been halted, rerouted and may even be cancelled in several countries because of protests over the Chinese occupation of Tibet and other humanitarian issues.
"I'm kind of torn," Drouin said. "Because being somewhat of an activist, I want to speak out and show my discontent. But at the same time, being an athlete and putting so much work in, it's hard to say I'm going to give up this one shot at going to such a huge event to show my political views. So, it's tough."
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While she speaks, Drouin displays the two sides of her life that have just now come into conflict. She sits in Manley Field House, wearing Big East athletic clothing, with a backpack over her shoulder.
Six pins adorn the backpack strap, each showing her political beliefs. The obvious one calls for President Bush to be put in jail. The pink ribbon symbolizes breast cancer awareness, while the rainbow button shows she is an LGBT ally. A safety pin with a red ribbon attached promotes AIDS awareness, while yet another pin shows her pro-choice beliefs.
She wears a green ribbon against domestic violence, showing support for Take Back the Night, in which she is a member of the planning committee. She is also president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, founder and president of Student Athletes Across Borders, vice president of the Student Peace Action Network, and is a member of the planning committee for the "Ten Tons of Love" charitable donation drive.
They have always been a part of her life, just like athletics.
But Drouin worries the politics could decide her athletic future. While it remains unlikely, activists have been pushing Canada and other countries to boycott the entire Olympics.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
W
posted 4/18/08 @ 7:29 PM EST
Thanks for this profile. Nice to see there are aware SU athletes about to do us all proud.
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