Canadian Olympian Emilie Mondor perished in a car accident yesterday in Ontario, a Canadian news radio station reported today. She was 25 years-old.
Mondor represented Canada in the 2004 Olympic Games in the 5000m, her best event. Her career best time of 14:59.68 was once the Canadian record. In 2003 she ran for Canada in the IAAF World Championships in Athletics fininishing 12th in the 5-K.
"She was a special girl," said her manager Ray Flynn today via telephone from the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart.
According to CFRA News Talk Radio, Mondor was driving on Highway 417 in East Hawkesbury, Ontario, yesterday afternoon at around 4:30 when her car overturned. She was ejected from the car, and "sustained life-threatening injuries," according to the report. She was taken to Ottawa Civic Hospital and died later that evening.
Mondor, originally from Mascouche, Quebec, and most recently living in Ottawa, was in the midst of a comeback after missing much of 2005 and 2006, diagnosed with a bone wasting condition. She ran her first race of 2006 in Toronto at the Sporting Life 10-K, finishing second in 32:27.
"I do not care being 2nd here," Mondor said in a statement posted on her website after the race. "It is a victory overall for me. My comeback is unbelievable."
Although she was accomplished on the track, Mondor had a natural talent for road running. In 2004 she ran 15:16 at the Carlsbad 5000, a Canadian record, and 31:10 at the Vancouver Sun Run 10-K. At the time of her death she was training for her marathon debut at the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 5. She was coached by Ken Parker at the time of her death. She started running at 14 years-old, winning her first Canadian title in 1997 when she became the junior cross country champion.
In the last posting on her website, emiliemondor.com, Mondor said she was excited to try the marathon. "I always had that idea in my head," she wrote. "My agent Ray Flynn too. I live my dream now."
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