Before the last Olympic games, an injury kept her from training for nine months. Here's how she battled her way back to top form.

Last time hurdler Sarah Wells was preparing for the Olympics, disaster struck. In 2011, the year before the Summer Games in London, she was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her femur. She couldn't train for nine months, a lifetime when you're gearing up for the Olympics. She was finally cleared to compete with just eight months before the games. It seemed like she'd never be ready in time—but she did it, thanks in no small part to her support system, hard work and an iron-clad belief that she could. This time around, Sarah's uninjured, though no less busy. She recently launched a line of workout gear with Winners, regularly speaks to students about overcoming setbacks and, oh yeah, trains hard to replicate, if not surpass, her success at last year's Pan Am games, where she won a silver and bronze medal.

Sarah’s Quick Questionnaire

1. What's your good-luck charm? A little flower I wear in my hair.
2. What song do you play to pump yourself up? Believe by Yolanda Adams.
3. What food is your guilty pleasure? Red Velvet cupcakes.
4. What's your biggest fear? Even though I have to fly a lot, flying. Turbulence stresses me out.
5. What's your favourite quote/mantra/affirmation? Believe.
6. If I weren't an athlete, I'd be… A country singer! I’m not a good singer but I wish I was.
7. I'm proud to be Canadian because… Everyone thinks we’re nice.
8. Someday I hope to… Bring home the gold!
9. Right now I'm reading… Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
10. One thing you probably don't know about me is… I can’t swim. It seems unlikely, but I’m a terrible swimmer.