A quartet of National Sport Organizations welcomed new Athlete Directors. The list includes former national team speed skater Alyson Charles, current karate athlete Hana Furumoto-Deshaies, retired para triathlete Sasha Beck and ex-Team Canada luger Makena Hodgson.
Charles was one of Canada’s most consistent female skaters since breaking onto the international scene during the 2018-2019 season. A native of Montreal, she captured an impressive 22 medals in only four years on the international circuit, culminating with an appearance at Beijing 2022, where she finished 4th in the 3000m relay, 8th in the 500m and 20th in the 1000m. An advocate for representation and diversity with the sport, Charles retired from the National Program in 2022 and has turned her focus to her completing her studies at McGill University.
Furumoto-Deshaies recently won her first Karate 1-Series A title on Canadian turf in Richmond, B.C. She was also a silver medallist at the 2023 Pan Am Senior Championships in addition to winning the North America’s Cup in the women’s Kumite -55kg event. The Gatineau, Que. resident will succeed Toshi Uchiage, who recently took on a coaching role with Karate BC, as the voice on the Board of Directors representing the 2023 Athlete Council.
Beck retired from triathlon after guiding Christine Robbins in the sport’s Paralympic debut at Rio de Janeiro 2016. She continues to coach and mentor youth and adult athletes in the sport in Ontario in addition to her full-time career in the energy industry where she brings her expertise as an engineer to Enbridge Gas Inc. Operational Change Management team.
Hodgson competed in her lone Olympic Winter Games at Beijing 2022. Since retiring following those Games, Hodgson has enrolled at Mount Royal University and has helped coach young athletes making their first marks in the sport. Hodgson was officially welcomed onto the Board during Luge Canada’s Annual General Meeting this month, which was held in Whistler, B.C. for the first time in 10 years.