Eileen Kramchynsky Nelson
Athlete (2006)
Volleyball
Eileen came out of Saskatoon to become a strong player for Canada in women's volleyball, joining the national junior team for two years, the national senior team for seven years and wearing Canada's colours at seven international games.
Eileen was born in Saskatoon and developed a keen interest in sports while she was growing up. Eileen played volleyball, basketball and participated in track and field at St. Edward's Elementary School and continued to compete for the Century Track Club of Saskatoon until she was 17 years old.
She played on E. D. Feehan's basketball team which won the 1983 city championship, played on volleyball teams which won the city titles in 1981 and 1983 and won the city high school hurdles both as a midget and a junior. Eileen also played a vital role for E. D. Feehan teams at the Saskatchewan championships, helping the Troys win the 4A volleyball crowns in both 1981 and 1983, the 4A basketball title in 1983 and taking first place in the junior 80-metre hurdles at the 1981 track meet.
She played for Saskatchewan volleyball team at the 1983 Canada Winter Games and at the age of 17, was selected to play for Canada's national junior team. During the 1983-84 season, she was named Female Athlete of the Year by Sask Sport and nominated for Athlete of the Millennium.
Eileen joined the Canadian senior team at the age of 18 and among her first international tournaments were the World University Games in 1985, the world championships in 1986 and the World University Games in 1987. Canada finished fifth at the 1987 Pan-American Games. The Canadians also played in a tournament in Holland in 1991. Eileen was a leading Canadian light in the game against Cuba at the Goodwill Games in 1991. Although Canada finished in seventh place, they had their moments of success during the tournament.
While competing in the World Student Games at Cuba in 1991, she was introduced to the Cuban president Fidel Castro. Sliced in between her roles with Canada's national team, Eileen played professional volleyball in Stuttgart, West Germany, in 1988-89 and in Salzburg, Austria in 1989-90 and again in 1990-91. Eileen has received multiple All-Stars and MVPs at the international level. With volleyball, she traveled to over 50 countries and competed in over 250 matches world-wide, 2 World Championships, 3 Olympic Qualifying tournaments, 2 World Universiade Games and 2 European Cup Championships.
Now living in Regina, Eileen operates the Streamlined Laser Rehabilitation Clinic but has taken on new athletic challenges continuing her fitness for life at the Master's level, including canoeing and kayaking, dragon boating where she won gold, silver and bronze medals this year, basketball and marathon running.