BISHOP-NRIAGU Melissa

General
TRIBUTE TO LATE COACH
In November 2020 her longtime coach, Dennis Fairall, died after years of battling progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare degenerative brain disease. When she began working with new coach Trent Stellingwerff, she was still basing her training on Fairall's programmes. "Dennis has been my coach for over a decade. He has had an immeasurable impact, not only on my career and me as a person, but also in every athlete he's coached, every coach who had the pleasure to work beside him, and our community. Dennis will always be with me. Dennis taught me so much about the sport and really got me to where I am today. Any success I have from this point forward is because of Dennis. And I know what he would say to me, lining up on that start line. As long as I keep that with me, I think we'll be okay. I know he's there." (Facebook page, 16 Nov 2020; cbc.ca, 18 Nov 2020)

MOTHERHOOD
She says that becoming a mother to daughter Corinne in 2018 has altered her mindset and approach to the sport in a positive way. "Children put life in perspective. The training and fitness was the easiest thing to come back. But it's the time management involved, with a having a baby. I think being a mum in pursuit of the Olympic podium holds more weight than before. I truly believe there is a tougher, stronger and fiercer woman in you when you become a mum and life becomes less about you, and more about your family. I think if anything it has helped leave track at track and not be completely enthralled with it, whereas before I was living in this track bubble 24/7. Family and having children really changes that. It puts life in perspective. It's for the better." (ottawasun.com, 23 Mar 2020; manifestosport.com, 05 Jul 2018; cbc.ca, 26 Jul 2019; torontosun.com, 25 Jul 2019)

EARLY DAYS
She grew up in Eganville, ON, Canada, a small town with a population of 1300 people. Her first club, the Ottawa Lions, was located 130 kilometres from her house, so her family members had to alternate driving her two hours each way three times per week for four years. "It was such a huge commitment on my parents' behalf. At the time they both worked full-time, my brother was playing competitive [ice] hockey. It was no easy feat by any means." (iaaf.org, 19 Feb 2016)

FURTHER EDUCATION
In addition to her bachelor's degree in kinesiology, exercise science and education from the University of Windsor, in 2020 she began studying for a certificate of business from Queen's University in Kingston, ON, Canada. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Jan 2020; cbc.ca, 18 Nov 2020)

She became the first female Canadian athlete to win a medal in the 800m at the world championships, when she claimed silver at the 2015 edition of the tournament in Beijing, People's Republic of China. (ottawasun.com, 23 Mar 2020; SportsDeskOnline, 08 Jan 2021)