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My name is Emilie Tan (nee Nadeau Benoit), I was born and raised in Longueuil (south shore of Montreal) Quebec, Canada. My teenage years were filled with my passion for short track speed skating, a sport I practiced for a total of 12 years. I represented Canada at the Junior World Championships for three years in a row (2002, 2003, 2004) and competed at the 2003 Canada Winter Games in Campbellton/Bathurst, where I earned a total of 5 medals (3 Gold, 1 silver, 1 Bronze).

Feeling my life was not going in a direction I liked, I decided to move to Australia in 2008. I took a one way ticket (not recommended!), got a working holiday visa and left with only a backpack and a few thousand dollars in my bank account. I travelled around on the first year and decided to settle in Melbourne, a city I now consider my home. I eventually met my now husband Luke and we married in 2012. I obtained my Australian Citizenship in 2015 and I am now a proud dual Canadian and Australian citizen.

In 2012, as I was suffering from pretty debilitating digestive disorders, I decided to give a plant based diet a try. I never looked back and have been a vegan ever since. Being a big animal lover and a compassionate person, it felt right from the beginning.

With all the extra energy I gained from being finally able to digest my food and finally allow myself to eat nutritious, whole plant food, I decided to train for the 2014 Melbourne Marathon. With only about 3 months of consistent training and a cookie cutter plan purchased from the internet, I finished in a not too shabby 3:25. I had just caught the endurance bug! I then signed up for my first ultra, the 56km Two bays Trail Run in the Mornington Peninsula where I finished 4th woman amongst a competitive field. Since then, I have completed almost a few more full marathons + 50km’s and five (5) 100km races (plus a bunch of 5km, 10km, half-marathons).

My greatest achievements:

Being Sienna’s mum

Being selected as part of the Australian National Team for the 2018 100km World Championships held in Croatia on September 8th 2018. I finished 36th female in a time of 8h30.

Being crowned 2018 Ladies 100km Australian Champion (Ultrarunning).

5th overall at the 2003 Junior World Championships (Short Track Speed Skating)

Most decorated athlete at the 2003 Canada Winter Games with 5 medals (Short Track Speed Skating)

Experience