Melanie (front row, second from left) and her team won the bronze medal at the BMO National Championships Jubilee competition in October.

It’s funny what motivates us to pick up a tennis racket, swing a baseball bat, or bounce a basketball for the first time. What’s even more interesting is the level to which some of us can actually succeed when we give it everything we have. Melanie Clarke’s reason for kicking a soccer ball for the first time was nothing out of the ordinary.

“I was looking for a new team sport that my friends and I could all start together. We were all twelve. I remember I was going into Junior High and all of the cool girls played on the soccer team, so I thought I’d make some friends,” recalls Clarke.  “And it turned out to work because the girls were nice and I loved to play.”

What is unordinary about her story is how far those soccer cleats would actually take her. Six years after she made her Junior High team, she competed in the 2001 Canada Games in London, Ontario.  Her friends and family cheered as she stepped onto the field sporting a Prince Edward Island jersey. Her team may not have brought home the gold, but her memories of the pristine fields, the genuine sportsmanship and the welcoming atmosphere are still alive.

Clarke’s Games story doesn’t end there. Currently, she works as a Human Resources -Assistant for the Halifax 2011 Winter Games.  Her dedication to her job is only matched by her anticipation for the events that will unfold during those 18 days in February, 2011.

“Everybody’s super excited about it. The buzz has already started in Halifax and we’re sixteen months out,” says Clarke with a smile. “There’s going to be a great vibe in the city during the Games, and we’re all working really hard to put on the best Games possible.”

As the days bring us closer to the event that will put Halifax in the spotlight, Clarke offers some advice to all aspiring Canada Games athletes.  “Never give up on your dreams and do it because you love it. Try hard and work hard, but always enjoy every moment of what you’re doing. If it’s a goal, you’ve got to work hard to achieve it.”

This past October, Clarke competed in the BMO National Championships Jubilee competition, helping her team earn bronze medals. To date, she has played in the National Championships an impressive eight times, taking home a gold, silver and two bronze medals.  She was also the captain of her varsity team while attending Dalhousie.

Despite her numerous accomplishments, she still holds a special place for the Canada Games. “The Games has helped shape me into the player I am today.”

-Written by Justin MacNeill

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