Canada’s athletes in Sochi: Meet snowboarder Mercedes Nicoll

Sport: Snowboarding

Age: 30

Hometown: Whistler, B.C.

Accomplishments:

• Eight-time medallist on the World Cup circuit.
• 2010 Winter X Games Europe 4^th-place finish.

Interesting Fact: Was a skier growing up but after moving to Whistler realized most kids her age were snowboarding, so she made the switch and was competing on the World Cup tour two years later.

Chances: She fell in her first Olympic Games in 2006, finishing 27^th. She followed that up with a strong 6^th-place showing in Vancouver and could potentially improve on that and reach the podium in Sochi.