When Micha Powell walks into Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium during the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, she will be treading a well-worn path.
The University of Maryland sprinter, who will compete for Canada in the 4x400-meter relay event, has learned the Olympic ideal from her parents. Her father, Michael Powell, was a three-time Olympian for the United States track and field team. Michael Powell, who has owned the world long-jump record for the past 25 years, competed for his home country during the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympics. He was the long-jump silver medalist during the 1988 and 1992 Games, before finishing fifth in his final Olympic appearance at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
Powell's mother, Rosey Edeh, was also a three-time Olympian. Edeh, who is now a Canadian TV news anchor, competed in the 400-meter hurdles event for Canada during the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics. Edeh, who was a five-time track and field All-American at Rice University, still holds the Canadian 400-meter hurdles record.
