15 Facts About Jessica Zelinka

Jessica Zelinka was the gold medalist at the 2007 Pan American Games.

Jessica Zelinka first became interested in track and field in elementary school and competed in her first heptathlon at 16.

Jessica Zelinka missed much of the 1999 outdoor season because of an illness.

Jessica Zelinka missed most of the 2002 season due to a back and hamstring injury.

Jessica Zelinka just missed out on the medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games having finished in fourth place.

Jessica Zelinka set a new personal best and Canadian record points score for heptathlon, with 6343.

Jessica Zelinka was selected for the 2007 World Championships in Athletics, but did not compete.

Jessica Zelinka finished in fifth place at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Jessica Zelinka earned a season's best total of 6204 points.

At the games Jessica Zelinka was battling the traveler's diarrhea that affected many athletes in Delhi.

Jessica Zelinka's medal was notable however as she just had a baby the previous year and had taken that season off and only returned to competition in 2010.

Jessica Zelinka had considered foregoing it to concentrate on the heptathlon, but decided to compete in both events.

At the 2012 London Olympics, Jessica Zelinka finished 7th overall in both the Women's Heptathlon event and the 100 m hurdles.

Jessica Zelinka competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games following a couple years away from the sport, there she won silver behind teammate Brianne Theisen-Eaton.

In 2012 Jessica Zelinka was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.