fciwomenswrestling.com article,Olympic Committee photo credit
Standing in the middle of the desert, sand everywhere and not a swimming pool in sight, visions of one very formidable hill after another are in front of you but void of intimidation, you are determined to climb over and cross every single mound until you can dive into the deep end of the aqua blue.
That is what a positive spirit will do for you.
The timeless master of self-improvement, Mr. Norman Vincent Peale was an American minister and author known for his work in popularizing the concept of positive thinking, especially through his best-selling book The Power of Positive Thinking.
He was once quoted as saying, “There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.”
Jennifer Abel became one of Canada’s youngest ever divers when she had her debut Olympics at the age of 16 in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
That is an incredible accomplishment and it was just the starting place.
She became the 2010 Commonwealth Games champion in both the 1 meter springboard and the 3 meter synchro springboard with Émilie Heymans as well as holding a 2010 Commonwealth silver in the 3 meter springboard.
After her positive results she stated with an enthusiastic spirit, “This was my first Commonwealth Games and I didn’t expect to win so many medals. It shows I’m on the right track for the Olympics.”
Good point. Only a few more hills to go.
She then went on to win a silver with Emilie Heymans at the 2011 Pan American Games in the 3 meter synchro event. For the year of 2011, Abel was named the Aquatic Federation of Canada’s female athlete of the year.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she won a bronze medal, with her partner, in the 3 meter springboard synchronized diving event.
Jennifer competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, she and her new partner Pamela Ware won the silver medal in 3 meter synchro springboard.
She next competed in the 1 meter springboard where she won the gold medal.
Our star finished with a silver medal in the 3 meter single springboard event, completing a three medal games for her. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, this Canadian star finished fourth in both the solo and synchro 3 meter springboard events.
What is so wonderful is that she just seems to be getting started.
Understandably the positive accolades are blowing in, infusing a positive spirit and reducing the sand dunes ahead.
Thus far we have viewed her accomplishments in chronological order. At olympic.ca they know her well and share parts of her growing biography and resume. “Jennifer Abel broke onto the international scene in 2006 with a 3m bronze medal at the world junior championships. Two years later, at age 16, she was the youngest Canadian diver at Beijing 2008. At London 2012, it was Abel and partner Émilie Heymans who won Canada’s first medal of the Games with their 3m synchro bronze.
After Heymans’ retirement, Abel teamed with Pamela Ware resulting in synchro podium success at the 2013 and 2015 FINA World Championships, the 2014 and 2016 FINA World Cups, the 2014 Commonwealth Games, as well as the 2015 Pan Am Games.”
Well summarized.
Well said.
When you can have your name enshrined in an encyclopedia, you know that you have impacted the world. At thecanadianencyclopedia.ca they add, “In 2009 Abel secured two national championships, as well as bronze medals on the FINA Grand Prix circuit, at the Canada Cup and the USA Grand Prix. That year, Abel competed with a new 3 m synchronized partner, Melanie Rinaldi. Together, the won silver at the Canada Cup.”
Outstanding. Jennifer has teamed with three different partners and without missing a beat, continued to achieve exceptional results.
Helping others to achieve their best is a marker of a true champion and motivator.
There must have been an exceptional village that helped raise Jennifer.
Montreal, Quebec is beyond exceptional.
Part of the reason is that there is so much going on there any time, any day.
The beyond exceptional travel site Lonely Planet is happy to share. “Montréal is a slice of old Europe in a pie of contemporary design. A day’s wander might take in the photogenic 18th-century facades of Old Montréal before a cycling tour of the lovely Canal de Lachine, or a wander through the glittering shops and restaurants of downtown before ending at the inviting terraced cafes of Plateau Mont-Royal. The architectural sweep of the city takes in a wealth of heritage churches such as the breathtaking Basilique Notre-Dame, as well as 20th-century icons like the Stade Olympique and Habitat 67. Montréal’s hotels and museums additionally push the edges of contemporary interior design.”
And with Jennifer in mind, Montreal can penetrate your soul and your stomach.
Lonely Planet loves the spice of life there too. “Blessed with one of the most exciting food scenes in North America, Montréal brims with temples dedicated to Kamouraska lamb, Arctic char and, of course, poutine (fries smothered in cheese curds and gravy). You’ll find irresistible patisseries, English pubs, 80-plus-year-old Jewish delis and magnificent food markets reminiscent of Paris. There are hipster bars with tiny bowling alleys and innumerable cafes in which to while away a lazy afternoon. And there are late-night eateries where you can linger over wondrous combinations of food and drink that you’ll find nowhere else on earth.”
It makes us want to hang out with Jennifer and her friends and delve.
Where at?
Jennifer is of Haitian descent so let’s think Creole. Are you ready?
Look, they’re still open.
At casserolekreole.com they welcome, “Founded in 2006 by two professional caterers, Casserole kréole distinguished themselves by their rich Caribbean flavored culinary creations. Our expertise and know-how will guarantee an exceptional catering experience and tasteful dishes that will tickle your palate and delight your senses!
These creations from our caterers are a perfect combination of Haitian and exotic cuisine. The range of our dishes will take you on a spicy and tasty culinary journey.”
It smells so good and tastes even better.
Haitian food originates from a blend of several culinary styles that populated the western portion of the island of Hispaniola, namely the French, African, Taíno natives, and Spanish influence.
Comparable to that of creole or criollo (Spanish for creole) cooking and similar to the rest of the Latin Caribbean, (the French and the Spanish-speaking countries of the Antilles), this exotic blend differs in several ways from its regional counterparts.
While the cuisine is unpretentious and simple, the flavors are bold and spicy that demonstrate a primary influence of African culinary aesthetic, paired with a very French sophistication with notable derivatives coming from native Taíno and Spanish techniques.
Boy that was spicy and pleasant.
Montreal is wonderful.
It is understandable why Jennifer is so positive and dynamic. Look at the community that she emanated from and there after flourished.
The positive winds have blown the sand dunes away.
For Jennifer Abel, in terms of future success, the crystal blue deep end of the pool is only the beginning.
~ ~ ~
OPENING PHOTO CREDIT – Canadian Olympic Committee
http://olympic.ca/team-canada/jennifer-abel/
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/canadas-jennifer-abel-finishes-first-3m-prelims
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jennifer-abel/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/canada/montreal
https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=414671684
https://www.yelp.com/biz/casserole-kr%C3%A9ole-montreal-nord
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_cuisine
https://uncorneredmarket.com/haitian-food/
http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Haiti.html
