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We sit down with Karelle Edwards-Perry LMHCA, CMPC, a former Canadian National Team Hurdler, as she shares her story in this podcast episode. Karelle opens up about her journey dealing with a chronic back injury that significantly impacted her collegiate and professional athletic pursuits, as well as her mental health. She candidly discusses the hurdles she faced in building confidence and how her experiences growing up in a predominantly white community as a biracial woman shaped her identity both as an individual and as an athlete.

In this episode, Karelle's introspective conversation touches on themes of resilience, self-acceptance, and embracing one's unique journey. Her insights into navigating setbacks and challenges will resonate with anyone striving to overcome adversity. Join us as we explore the powerful intersections of sports, personal growth, and the pursuit of inner strength.

Karelle Edwards, a 5x Team Canada hurdler, licensed mental health counselor, and mental performance consultant, and co-owner of Embrace Your Pace, shares her journey in sports. Karelle walks us through how she advocates for change in sports, especially around abusive coaching relationships. She shares her experience with a negative coaching relationship, giving us coaching red flags and tips on how we can bring awareness to inappropriate behaviors like emotional abuse, harassment, and assault. Karelle shares how, despite all the challenges she had to overcome in her athletic journey, she has learned to trust herself. Her journey shows us that performance and mental health can coexist, and her perspective as a professional athlete who is also a mental health professional is so valuable for all female athletes to hear. “Don't be afraid to speak up. You are unique, and you have a unique journey. Follow your own path. You deserve to be there. Trust yourself and celebrate yourself.” - Karelle Edwards