McMaster's sport community has a strong history of garnering national success. Class of 2014 alumnus and SportsCentre anchor Lindsay Hamilton has built a thriving broadcasting career through "putting in the reps," a principle she learned growing up as a varsity athlete in an active family.

The middle child in a family of five children who would all go on to compete as varsity athletes, Hamilton developed a passion for sports as both a player and a spectator.

She competed in gymnastics, swimming, and field hockey, among many other activities growing up but took a particular liking to lacrosse. That aptitude would lead her to compete for Team Ontario in her high school years and later for McMaster's varsity team as an undergraduate. Hamilton credits her parents' sacrifice and support to help her pursue the sports she was most passionate about, and her siblings for being strong role models as athletes and community members. As a young fan, Hamilton attended Hamilton Tiger-Cats games with her father, which she recalls as her first exposure to the fan experience. "You could be sitting beside a stranger when you walk in the game and be hugging that person by the end," she remembered fondly. This atmosphere would inspire her to marry her love of sports with her other passion: theatre.

Hamilton was an avid participant in theatre from age seven, beginning to audition for TV roles at age 13. She received her first big break in 2008 when she booked a role as the national host of the Family Channel. Serving in this position following her senior year at Lorne Park Secondary School, she interviewed music and entertainment stars like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and One Direction. "It was that spark underneath me – that taste of what the broadcasting world was – that made me know I was going to do everything in my power to try to turn this into a career," she said.

As a result, Hamilton was seeking flexibility when it came time to choose a university. She wanted a school with a strong communications program that was close to home so she could continue her work with the Family Channel. McMaster emerged as the perfect fit.

"I remember there was a moment during my campus tour that McMaster felt like home," she reminisced.

McMaster's double major in Communications and Theatre & Film provided her with the comprehensive education she needed while allowing her the option to play lacrosse and continue her work with the Family Channel.  

At McMaster, Hamilton thrived by creating her own opportunities. She worked as a producer and host on MacTV and 93.3 CFMU Radio, where she created her own morning sports show and worked as Community Outreach Coordinator. She created video segments on finance and student housing for McMaster's Student Success Centre and interviewed visiting celebrities like Bill Nye the Science Guy and George Stroumboulopoulos. "Basically, if there was a way I could create a segment, I pitched it, and I did it," she laughed.

Hamilton stresses the importance of these experiences in helping her to learn every aspect of the production process. She likens her perseverance in developing her career to training as an athlete:

"I often compare broadcasting to sports. You don't just step onto the field thinking it's going to go well – you're putting in the reps every single day. You're practicing every single day. That was the same for my broadcasting career."

Hamilton brought the intensity from the lacrosse field to the CFMU studio, booking every interview she could. She recalls Program Director Jamie Tennant marveling at her persistence. "I remember him saying, 'you know, you can take a coffee break if you want!' I think it spoke to how passionate I was (about the opportunity)" she smiled.

Safe to say, Hamilton's reps are paying off. After graduating in 2014, she worked with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment for two years, with the Pan American Games, and went on to cover the 2016 Rio summer Olympics with CBC. Later that year, she received an offer to work at TSN at the young age of 25. "I remember letting that e-mail sink in because that was a dream come true," she said.

Today, you can find Hamilton hosting SportsCentre every day on TSN, regularly hosting NHL coverage, and hosting marquee events such as the FIFA World Cup, the Masters, and more. This September will mark her seventh year with the company.

When it comes to finding reward in her work, Hamilton points to sharing a passion and love for sport, especially with youth. "When I have a young girl come up to me and say that she wants to pursue sports because they've seen me in my position … there's something really humbling and gratifying about that," she said. In providing a visible role model as a woman in sports broadcasting, she hopes to inspire young girls to remain involved in sport and learn the values of teamwork, determination, and goal-setting that have helped her succeed.

For those who want to pursue a similar career in the sports industry, Hamilton emphasizes the importance of unyielding determination, and leaning in to new opportunities that will help you grow, in her learning experiences with MacTV and CFMU.

"I received a lot of 'nos.' University is a terrific space to learn your craft, grow from the learning experience, and try again. That's the time to try everything," she said. She also points to making the most of available opportunities and creating learning opportunities when they are not freely available. "Maybe the job doesn't even exist! You have to create your own momentum," she stressed. 

Reflecting on her time at McMaster, Lindsay Hamilton points to the "special spirit" of the city with which she shares a name. "I speak about Hamilton so fondly that people often think I'm from Hamilton," she said. Hamilton indeed came to embody the city's entrepreneurial grit in her time as a Marauder. By creating her own opportunities to develop, learning from mistakes, and working tirelessly in every role she was given, she has claimed her spot among the world's best broadcasters.

As any professional champion will tell you, success is built rep after rep.