Q&A with Damian Warner, Commonwealth and Pan Am Gold medalist and Canadian record holder in the Decathlon
Q: What are your goals for Rio?
Warner: “In London in 2012, I was just happy to be there and representing my country. In Rio, I am there to win.”
Q: What have you been working on over the past three years to achieve your goals?
Warner: “I have needed to improve in every one of my events, which I have nearly done. As well, we have built a great team around me. Having a great team is crucial for success at this level.”
Q: Have you had any setbacks or challenges to overcome recently?
Warner: “I was competing in Gotzis, Austria in May. It is my only other decathlon this year. I set a world record in the 100m, but in the next event, the long-jump, I had one of my poorer performances in a long time. There were terrible winds, but it was no excuse. It demonstrates how difficult it is to put together a great decathlon in a long two days, only a couple of times per year!”
Q: What is your general training routine for the few months leading up to the event?
Warner: “I work out 6 days a week, and try to take one complete day off. I try to do each event at least once per week. I also have to include regular weight training and physio/massage. So it averages about 3 to 5 hours per day of training.”
Q: What is your daily routine during competition days?
Warner: “I am up very early and to the track a couple hours before I start. For the Pan Am games, I was there by 7:00am on Day 1, started at 9:00am, and didn’t get back to the hotel until about 10:00pm. Up at 5:00am, to the track at 7:00am on Day 2. After the media requests and doping control, I didn’t get to dinner until 11:00pm!”
Q: What is the event schedule and which events do you expect to do well in and which ones are not your strength
Warner: “The decathlon is always the same. Day 1 is 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400 m. Day 2 is 100m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500m. With the exception of the 1500m, I do well (and enjoy) the running events and hurdles. I also like discus, and am getting better in the other throws. The area that can use improvement are in my jumps, especially pole vault. The 1500m is the toughest event. It is at the end of two gruelling days, and you just have to suck it up and go.”
Q: What types of distractions are involved at this type of event which may keep you from your best results?
Warner: “I’ve now had the experience of the London Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth and Pan Am games. They taught me how to control my emotions and do what I can within the environment. It was a learning process, especially in London in 2012. Now I know exactly what to expect and will be able to focus on performing to the best of my abilities in Rio!”
www.damianwarner.ca
London and area Olympians
Besides Warner, there are other London and area athletes who have either qualified for the Olympic Games in Rio, or who are competing this summer to try and qualify for Team Canada. Below is a non-comprehensive list (there may be
others in the region who will qualify for the Games)
• Shelina Zadorsky (London) – Women’s Soccer
• Jessie Fleming (London) –Women’s Soccer
• Derek Drouin (Sarnia) – Athletics (High Jump)
• Lanni Marchant (London) – Athletics (10,000m and possibly the marathon)
• Jen Cotten (London) – Athletics (400m Hurdles) *qualifications July 8-10
• Miranda Aiym (London) – Basketball * Team Canada qualified, names officially announced July 22
Contributions by Jeff Fischer and Damian Warner and photos by Claus Andersen
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