{"id":107802,"date":"2026-02-20T15:13:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T20:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=107802"},"modified":"2026-02-20T17:14:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T22:14:59","slug":"brock-athletic-therapist-keeps-team-canada-competition-ready-at-winter-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2026\/02\/brock-athletic-therapist-keeps-team-canada-competition-ready-at-winter-olympics\/","title":{"rendered":"Brock athletic therapist keeps Team Canada competition-ready at Winter Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"

While competing on the world stage at the Winter Olympics, some of Canada\u2019s top athletes are being left in the hands of Kelsey Marshall (MSc \u201925).<\/span><\/p>\n

Brock University\u2019s Lead Athletic Therapist has been in Milan Cortina for the past several weeks supporting Team Canada\u2019s bobsleigh athletes \u2014 and living a lifelong dream in the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to put into words,\u201d Marshall says of this significance of this unforgettable moment in her career. \u201cAnytime an athlete trusts you with their performance and health, it\u2019s meaningful. But when you\u2019re standing there wearing Canada across your chest, supporting athletes at the pinnacle of their careers, it hits differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Two

Brock graduate and Team Canada brakewoman Niamh Haughey (BPhEd ’21), left, is competing in bobsleigh at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The team is being supported by fellow Brock grad and Lead Athletic Therapist for the University, Kelsey Marshall (MSc \u201925).<\/p><\/div>\n

Marshall spends her days on site with the team, which includes fellow Brock grad and Team Canada brakewoman Niamh Haughey<\/a> (BPhEd ’21), filming their starts and sport-specific movements to help with performance therapy planning. She can be found trackside during warm-ups, watching to see how athletes are moving and feeling, and monitoring for the need for small adjustments.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes it\u2019s a quick treatment. Sometimes it\u2019s a quick check to build confidence,\u201d she says. \u201cAt this level, the smallest detail can matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

If a race doesn\u2019t go as planned, Marshall is on hand to thoroughly evaluate athletes \u2014 after trackside medical provides any necessary emergency care \u2014 and manage any acute injuries.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is always to keep athletes safe while supporting their ability to perform at their best,\u201d she says. \u201cThey are long days, but incredibly rewarding ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Brock Master of Science graduate says her time working and studying at the University has supported her Olympic journey in many ways.<\/p>\n

\u201cGraduate studies strengthened my clinical reasoning and confidence in evidence-based practice, but just as importantly, they taught me how to think critically under pressure, handle and prioritize during times of heavy workload and to manage stress,\u201d she says. \u201cWorking in varsity sport environments helped me learn how to stay calm when things feel big and pressurized.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

Brock Lead Athletic Therapist Kelsey Marshall (MSc ’25) says taking in competitions at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics has been an unforgettable experience.<\/p><\/div>\n

Marshall says she\u2019s also learned from many mentors, professors, colleagues and athletes throughout her Brock career, each of whom has been a part of the process that led to her Olympic work.<\/p>\n

\u201cKelsey is a shining example of the high-calibre, dedicated employees we\u2019re lucky to have as part of our Brock Sport Medicine team,\u201d says Steve Lidstone, Associate Director, Sport Performance and Sport Medicine. \u201cShe brings various skills, compassionate care and a critical sport knowledge to Brock’s student-athletes every day, and we\u2019re thrilled to see that now translate on the world stage. We\u2019ll be rooting her on each step of the way and look forward to welcoming her back after this exciting opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

For students considering a career in athletic therapy, Marshall encourages them to dream big \u2014 but be prepared to work hard.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not always glamorous,\u201d she says. \u201cLong days. Early mornings. Late nights. Travel. Problem-solving on the fly. But if you love it, it\u2019s worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Say \u201cyes\u201d to opportunities, even if they feel small at the time, Marshall says.<\/p>\n

\u201cShow up consistently. Be positive. Be dependable. Learn from everyone around you. And don\u2019t underestimate the power of relationships,\u201d she says. \u201cYou truly never know which connection or experience will open the next door.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

Brock Lead Athletic Therapist Kelsey Marshall (MSc ’25) is using her skills to support Team Canada in bobsleigh at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While competing on the world stage at the Winter Olympics, some of Canada\u2019s top athletes are being left in the hands of Kelsey Marshall (MSc \u201925).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":107808,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[119,36,7484,7,3319,4052,55,1,4,58],"tags":[283,4437,7488,12849,9115],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107802"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107802"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107837,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107802\/revisions\/107837"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}