Olympic hopeful, entertainer, entrepreneur

Being the grandson of former Eskimo great Rollie Miles doesn’t guarantee success in sports, but it certainly hasn’t hurt—especially when you are the top ranked high jumper in Canada and within striking distance of making the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Described by his wife, Shannon Tyler, as “a triple threat of the highest degree,” Jesse Lipscombe is well on his way to becoming a legend in his own right. Not only is the 27-year-old a world-class athlete, but also a multi-talented entertainer and businessman. And, with a résumé like that, it’s no wonder Jesse is living a blindingly fast lifestyle, frequently travelling from his home base in Edmonton to athletic events and film sets all over the world.

In an e-mail written from Lucerne, Switzerland, during a break in training for a competition in Sweden, Jesse acknowledges the role his family has played in his success. “Sports are in my blood. I first started in gymnastics at four or five, but I soon found myself taking after my brother Curtis and my sister Deanne in track and field instead.”

Jesse’s prowess in track eventually earned him a full athletic scholarship to Moorehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he studied psychology and neurobiology.

In addition to his athletic ability, Jesse has had considerable success in the world of entertainment, as a finalist on Canadian Idol two seasons ago, and as a former member of local R&B trio, Jaeness. On the screen, he has had the honour of sharing scenes with the likes of Hollywood legends Sidney Poitier, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin. Now from Amsterdam, he e-mails word that he has been cast as the host of My Green House, a new TV series on eco-living… he won’t have details until he returns.

And when he isn’t on location or at competitions, Jesse turns his attention to his training company, Prioritizing Health and Tolerance—P.H.A.T.—which promotes balanced lifestyles. This venture has made him a sought-after personal trainer and coach, and a regular guest speaker at schools around Edmonton, motivating children to remain active and physically fit. Jesse is starting a couple of new endeavours which he says “…are my most exciting to date.”

So what else is on the to-do list this would-be Olympian who, incidentally, writes songs, plays and children’s books… and often appears on the Citytv breakfast show?

“Personally, I see little Jesses running around and a super happy home.

“What more could a man want?” √

Photo by Vinson Lim of Lim Design