I am having a really hard time putting the link up. I don't know why it keep redirecting all weird.

Please copy and paste this link:

Barabus.TRU.ca/gymnastics

Thanks!

Enjoy the webcast:)

Kyle

Updated Webcast Site

Barabus.TRU.ca/gymnastics

Canadian Gymnastics ChampionshipsI

Hey folks,

I am off to Kamloops tomorrow for the Canadian Gymnastics Championships.

I am excited to announce that I will be hosting a live webcast with coverage of the Men's and Women's AA competitions tomorrow night at 6pm Pacific. I will also be hosting the Event Finals on Saturday at 2pm Pacific as well.

Here is the link: http://www.Barabus.TRU.ca/gymnastics

And here is the link for the Championships themselves: www.canadiangymnastics2010.ca

There are a lot of new faces on the Senior scene and there are also a lot of faces missing this year.

Of note on the men's side, 2009 Canadian All-Around Champion Casey Sandy is missing in action due to a torn achilles tendon suffered at a training camp in Mexico in early 2010. Also missing is 2008 Olympian and 2005 World Championship Silver Medalist, Brandon Oneill, who suffered a devastating injury to his ACL at the same training camp which requires a full reconstruction. This injury will keep him sidelined for quite some time which is a huge disappointment for the program.

There have been a couple of retirements as well with Canadian great and 2 time Olympian, Adam Wong, making the tough decision to chase his professional goals and Jared Walls, a strong member of the Senior Canadian National team for almost a decade, deciding to hang up his grips and pursue life after gymnastics as well.

Look for Nathan Gafuik to dominate the Senior Men's category. Coming off a recent win at the Pacific Rim Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Nathan is hungry for his first Senior National title. And it is a title that he deserves. After being an alternate on the 2004 Olympic team, Nathan has slowly moved up the ranks and is finally starting to prove that he has the potential to be one of the best All-Arounders in the World. He has his sights set on an Olympic Medal in London and he has the goods to do it. In my opinion, this National title is his...the real question is, who will be second?

Other guys to watch for: Jayd Lukenchuk (so much potential, but can never hit...let's hope this competition is different!), Anderson Loran (Beautiful high bar as of late), Ken Ikeda (Um, like his brother Richard and a fine wine, Ken just keeps getting better with age) Jackson Payne (His World Champs experience really opened his eyes to the possibilities) and Kevin Lytwyn (BIG Gymnastics! He is really starting to come in to his own after his first season as a Senior last year).

On the womens side, notably missing from action is Brittany Rogers. She suffered an injury at the recent Pacific Rim Championships and has decided to save herself for the World Championships this fall. Good choice.

2009 Canadian Champion, Sydney Sawa, has a chance to make it 2 in a row, but she has some tough competition from young stars who are on the rise. Sydney has matured into a leader of the team, but hasn't really competed much this season which could play a role in her readiness.

Madeline Gardiner has long been known as that junior who people want to watch. Well, folks, she is here and she looks great! Interesting combinations, creative choreography and clean consistent routines should keep her in the top group. I'm excited about this athlete because she represents how innovation and attention to small details can make everyone take notice.

Dominique Pegg has competed a lot this year and she is starting to make a name for herself on the International gymnastics scene. She is powerful and dynamic and she has a presence on the floor that exudes "gymnast". She is clean, crisp and precise and if she hits all 4 events on Thursday night, she could come home with the title. I think this year is really teaching Dom how to compete and I think she will make an amazing addition to the World Championships team in Rotterdam and beyond.

Someone who I am super excited about this year is Kristina Vaculik. She took a long hiatus from competition to heal a nagging elbow injury and this year she made a triumphant return to competition with new sophistication and maturity. I am so impressed with her evolution. She looks poised, strong and confident and she matches those attributes with an incredible outlook and intelligence. She is my pick to emerge with the title of 2010 Canadian Champion. Welcome back, Kristina.

Other faces to watch: Jessica Savona (who's bars is an outta control trick fest concluding with a world class full twisting double layout!), Bianca Dancose Giambatti (Who, I must confess, I don't know much about...) and 2008 Olympian and soon to be Utah NCAA athlete, Nansy Damianova (This will be her last Nationals so I hope she can end her Canadian Elite career on a super high note).

See you in Kamloops!

Kyle

Kyle Shewfelt Invitational and Festival of Gymnastics - March 25-27, 2011

This is going to be AMAZING! I am super honoured to have a competition named after me, but I am also going to play a huge role in the planning, organizing, marketing and promotion. It's going to be an exciting project!

The main focuses of this event are to celebrate the sport gymnastics and to raise funds for Right To Play. It's a perfect fit!

More info to come....but until then, email kyleshewfeltinvite@gmail.com to get on the mailing list.

Through and through I have always believed that two of the most important things in life are to affect others in a positive way and to create a legacy. Operation legacy building = in action!

Kyle

This should be impossible...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkkQodMQ1_A

Holy F word.

Kyle

28!

Holy crap! I'm 28!

I had my birthday last week on the 6th and it just occurred to me that I am indeed Twenty Eight Frickin Years Old! Weird.

I can't quite remember what I imagined, as a young kid, I would be doing or who I would "be" when I was 28, but I do remember thinking that 28 was OLD. I also thought that I would have a hairy chest. haha.

In reality, I don't feel old at all...and I only have a few manly chest hairs ;) In fact, I have never felt younger. I am absolutely ALIVE right now and I am growing and playing more than I could have ever imagined.

What IS a person supposed to feel like when they are 28?

I feel ambitious.

I feel fast.

I feel like I can do anything.

I feel happy.

I feel playful.

I feel like trying new things.

I feel like I am learning.

I feel like pushing myself.

I feel like I recognize the person in the mirror.

These are all great things. 28 appears to be pretty awesome.

One new thing that I have been trying since my birthday is to live by the quote, "be who you want to be starting today".

I sometimes struggle with motivation, self-confidence, getting along with myself and my thoughts and getting myself going. When I don't feel that sense of purpose and organization in a day then I feel like it's very easy for me to let those negative thoughts win the battle and destroy my day.

So, I have been trying to be super proactive and live each day being the person I want to become. That person is someone who get's things done, has a plan, always looks at the positive side, believes in their ideas, knows what they want, takes care of themselves (I'm talking physically (biceps curls?), mentally and emotionally), hops out of bed in the morning with energy and enthusiasm, reads good books, WRITES blogs, does what they say they are going to do, takes action, takes risks, tries new things, follows through, has an organized space, treats the people around them with kindness, listens really well, focuses on what 'is' rather than what 'isn't', trusts themselves, uses their time wisely, plays hard and can look back on each day knowing that they are proud of the way they lived it.

So, this morning at 6:45am my alarm went off. I didn't have anywhere I NEEDED to be, but I reminded myself that it's important to me to start being who I want to become...and so I sprang out of bed and started attacking my "I've been putting this off and it's renting space in my head and heart so I need to get it done" list. Feels good! (BTW, a Birthday blog and a CSHOF blog were on the list)

I have a feeling that 28 is going to be a Grrrrrrrrrrrreat age. I've started it off well and I just have to keep reminding myself that each day is an opportunity to become more of who I want to "be".

Happy Birfday to me!

Kyle

ps- When I blew out the candles on my cupcakes, I obviously wished for more chest hair! Fingers crossed.

Heading to the Hall O' Fame!

I got the news that I am being inducted into Canada's Sports Hall Of Fame about a month ago, but I had to keep it a secret. It was hard.

When I phoned to tell my mom on the morning it got released, I think she thought that Kristin and I were having a baby because the conversation went something like this:

Kyle: "Hey Mom. How's it going?"

Mom: "Good Honey. How are you?"

Kyle: "I'm fine. Thanks. Hey, I have some news I want to share with you. I've had to keep it a secret for a little while, but it's OK to tell you now..."

Mom (in a concerned voice, almost bracing herself for a life changing moment): "OK. What is it?"

Kyle: "I'm being inducted into Canada's Sports Hall Of Fame!"

Mom (in a relieved, phew kind of voice): "Oh WOW! That's AWESOME! Congratulations sweetheart. You deserve it!"

It was fun to deliver the news (And no need to worry Ma, there will be no babies in the near future!).

Being inducted into the CSHOF is awesome! I am super excited about it, and there are 3 reasons why it really means a lot to me:

1. It's a huge honour for my entire family. It's the first time for us:) Represent!

2. I am thrilled with the group that I am being inducted with. Clara Hughes and Chantal Petitclerc are 2 of my faves and I can't wait to celebrate with them. Woot woot!

3. This is HUGE for gymnastics. Lori Fung, 1984 Rythmic Gymnastics Olympic Champion, has already been inducted and I get to join her as the first Artistic Gymnast to be included. This is B.I.G for Gymnastics.

All of the ceremonies, formal proceedings and parties are happening in November in my home city, Calgary...that is a long time to wait! I have to keep reminding myself: Patience Kyle, patience; all good things happen in time.

After getting the news, I am also inspired to nominate my former coach, Kelly Manjak, because he deserves it just as much as I do! Maybe he will be a part of the group soon too.

It's always nice for your accomplishments to be recognized. It also creates a little nostalgia. Ahhhh, the good ol' days! I hope that I am able to sum up what the honour means to me in 2 minutes or less at the ceremonies! Better start writing that one right now:)

I'm really looking forward to November and becoming a member of Canada's Sports Hall Of Fame!

K.

Article courtesy of www.gymcan.org

Kyle Shewfelt is headed to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame!

Posted Wednesday, May 5, 2010

A little more than two years after his last competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Kyle Shewfelt and a star-studded group of five other athletes and two builders will be formally inducted to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony on November 10th in Calgary.

Joining Kyle in the 2010 class of inductees are hockey star Patrick Roy, race car driver Jacques Villeneuve, wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc, speedskater Clara Hughes, freestyle skier Jean-Luc Brassard, Dr. Roger Jackson, a key figure in the Olympic movement as both an athlete and administrator and the late football legend Bob Ackles.

“It feels pretty damn good,” Kyle told the Toronto Star. “When I got the news, I was thrilled. And to see the group of people that I’m being inducted with, Clara and Chantal are two of my favourite people in the world. It’s a huge honour.”

News reports citing Kyle as Canada’s "first-ever gold medalist" in gymnastics were just slightly off the mark.

Kyle, in fact, is the only Canadian artistic gymnast to win a medal of any kind at the Olympics, an historic accomplishment that put Canada on the map in the gymnastics world in a way that it had never known before and sparked a new era in Canadian gymnastics.

Soon after Kyle’s thrilling gold-medal performance in the men’s floor exercise at the 2004 Olympics in Athens other Canadian artistic gymnasts made their own international breakthroughs: Brandon O’Neill won silver on floor at the 2005 world championships, joining Kyle, Curtis Hibbert and Alexander Jeltkov as the only Canadian men to win world championship medals.

In 2006, Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, inspired by Kyle like every other member of the national team, became the first, and so far, only Canadian female gymnast to win a world championship medal, earning the bronze on balance beam.

At the same world championships in Arhus, Denmark, Kyle led the Canadian men’s team to its best ever finish on the world stage -- reaching the final for the first time and ultimately placing sixth among the superpowers of the sport, including Russia, China, Japan and the United States.

Since retiring after his remarkable comeback from two broken knees to compete at the Bejing Olympics, Kyle has remained active on the Canadian gymnastics scene as a commentator for CBC broadcasts and as a roving ambassador and spokesperson for Gymnastics Canada

Gymnastics Canada salutes Kyle for his tremendous contribution to gymnastics and his selection to the Sports Hall of Fame.

My thoughts on the Chinese age controversy

I was asked by a reporter to weigh in. Here is what I said:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When something like this happens, I have mixed thoughts. I can see it from many different angles.

Firstly, I am happy that mistakes are being corrected. Fairness in sport is paramount. So that is good news.

But then I wonder if this is going to open a giant can of worms. It would not surprise me if there were other instances in the past where gymnasts ages have been falsified. If you can change the results of one competition, then does that mean its fair game to start digging for evidence to change all past mistakes?

I feel bad for the girls who competed; I wonder if they knew that their ages were falsified? I am pretty sure that they don't have to personally fill out the application forms like we do here in Canada. I think they have a team leader who does all of that paper work for them. The gymnasts job is to train and to focus on that. I wouldn't place blame on the athletes themselves.

Another argument could be; why does age even matter? If they were 14 and at a high enough level to make the team then why can't they compete? Platform Diving has a minimum age of 14. Gymnastics used to have a minimum age of 14. In fact, at the 1996 Olympics, Dominique Moceanu was 14 and no one said she was too young. I don't think Dom thought she was too young to compete at the Olympics either. Gymnastics is not a sport that sees a lot of female athletes peak in their late 20's. Maybe if the FIG really wants to make a statement then they could make the minimum age 18 or even 20 years old and then the safety of young athletes would really be the priority. But would gymnastics be the same? One of the allures of the sport is the fact that it's young people who are defying gravity. Would it be as appealing if everyone who was competing was old enough to drink a martini (in Alberta at least) after the competition? I know that some of the top girls in the world right now are 14 years old and the skills and routines they are performing are pretty close to what they will be aiming for in London 2012. Maybe making a rule that Junior age is U18 and Senior is over 18 would solve some problems?

I have also known of gymnasts who's birthdays were on the cusp of making the age requirement, but not quite close enough. I feel bad for the girl who has the potential to win in London 2012, but her 16th birthday is on January 1, 2013...one day too late. 4 years is a long time to wait and train for your Olympic moment in the world of gymnastics. And does that 1 day really make that big of a difference? I guess it does when you are getting your drivers licence so the same applies when it comes to doing release moves 10 feet above a bar! :)

I also had a question about the licences that the FIG will be issuing. How are they going to enforce the age on those? Gymnasts do not look their age. Canadian Olympian and a good friend of mine, Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs was legitimately 18 at the Olympics in 2008. She looked 12 (no offence Elyse). How will they ensure that passports and birth certificates are not being falsified when they apply for the licence?

Onto another debate, and it's one that is possibly a little selfish, but admittedly popped into my head after I heard the news: I also wonder if this opens the door to start asking questions about other results that may have been tainted. What about the vault controversy that I was involved in in Athens when Marian Dragalescu fell and got the bronze when I ended up 4th? For a second; I can't help but wonder if the judges mistakes on vault in 2004 can now be reversed? The evidence is there. The judges were sanctioned. The score that Marian Dragalescu received was mathematically impossible. Should we start fighting for that bronze medal again? Is there any hope to have the decision reversed? Or is it something that should be kept peacefully laid to rest?

About gymnastics reputation being tainted because of this controversy: I don't feel like this story will tarnish the reputation of the sport at all. Gymnastics will continue to be one of the most popular Olympic sports after all is said and done. I think gymnastics fans appreciate the sport because of its beauty, skill and athleticism and not just because of the medals that are awarded at the end of a competition. The general public only tunes in every 4 years for the Olympics and gymnastics is so captivating that it's hard not to watch. Gymnastics, in my opinion, is a sport that can withstand controversy. In fact, I think every sport has something controversial about it. Gymnastics will always be entertaining to watch because it's makes the seemingly impossible look easy. It doesn't matter who you are, gymnastics is simply awe inspiring.

In conclusion, I say Congratulations to the FIG and the IOC for doing the right thing and taking action. But I think the real question is: Where do we go from here? This was a ghost that was resurrected from the past...are they willing to deal with all of the other ones that might come creeping out? And what can we do moving forward to ensure that fairness and safety continue to prevail in the future?

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What are your thoughts?

Kyle

Right To Play TV

I did this interview during the Olympics in Vancouver!

Check it out:

http://righttoplaytv.com/video/watch/2qcbNVApenJ7zkWfP9qu4n

Win Some or Learn Some

I loved this!

From a post on Kristina Groves blog:

‘Dear Kristina, I would really love for you to win another medal, but please remember my motto – “Win some, or learn some” – inspired by the song, I’m yours, by Jason Mraz. Even if you “learn some”, you’ll always be a legend at Walter Lee. From a proud student, Candrika’

I'm a Luger!

Moving Makes Me Go Crazy (or Crazier!)

So I bought a new place. The process was like one of those scenes from a HGTV show where everything happens so fast that it's hard to keep up.

Summer 2009: I decide that I want to buy a new property closer to the action. I want to be within walking distance of pubs, coffee shops, grocery stores, yoga studios, parks, paths, restaurants, drug stores and lots of people.

And so my search begins...

Summer and Fall 2009: I look at more than 20 places...I find the building I want. But there are no units that I LOVE. And so I wait...

December 18, 11am: Email listing comes through on blackberry from my realtor as I'm boarding a plane on my way home from Toronto (Where I was speaking at a Special Olympics Breakfast and visiting my old coach, Kelly, and his family).

December 18th, 11:02am: I email the listing to Kristin to have a peek. She checks it out and calls back saying it looks perfect and it is exactly what I've seeking.

December 18th, 11:04am: I phone my realtor and leave a message asking to see the place that day.

I now have a flight from Toronto to Calgary to ponder my options. Of course, in my mind, I have already moved in...

December 18th: 1:00pm-ish: I get off the plane (4 hour flight plus time difference) and listen to my voicemail. We can see it tomorrow. Yes!

December 19th: We go and see the place at 2pm.

I walk in and it feels right. You know when you are buying real estate that when something feels right and you've looked at 20 places, then IT IS RIGHT!

We stay for 1.5 hours, looking at the parking stall and storage unit. It has everything I could ever want! And, many people don't know this, but my fave number is 6 and both the stall and locker are 6. How convenient!

I want to make an offer.

Sunday, December 20:

I make an offer. The sellers are located out of country so 48 hours is requested for response. And so I wait...

Monday, December 21: I get a counter. I don't like it, but I see where this is going...

Tuesday, December 22: They counter. Then I counter.

Tuesday night at 9pm while at a awesome Christmas party for my agency, Agenda Sport Marketing: I get a call. Deal accepted!

Tuesday night at 9:05pm: I have a beer in celebration!

Wednesday, December 23rd: I sign the papers.

Thursday, December 24th: Kristin and I leave for a 2 week vacation to Hawaii!!!

January 8th, 2010: We return from Hawaii and I get an email from a friend, Michelle, who knows that I bought a new place and she was wonders what I am doing with my old place.

I've tried not to think too much about it in Hawaii because I promised myself that I was going to give myself the gift of presence while away. I've gotta admit though, it crossed my mind often (shhhhh...don't tell Kristin...although I think she probably already knows - she is a secret spy/superhero when she is not designing kitchens :)).

I bought my place at the peak of the market in Calgary and if I sold then I would lose a lot of money on it. Selling = loss of money, potential 2 mortgages for longer than I am comfortable with, but on the plus side it equals no headaches when it's gone. I've also been considering renting, but I keep asking myself, "am I up for the task?".

Well, my friend tells me that she knows two girls who live in my building who want to have a look at my place if I am considering renting it.

Week of January 11th, 2010: My potential renters come over, check out my place and love it. They want to rent for a year starting March 1.

I become a landlord!

I am also reminded that sometimes life just works out perfectly. I love it when that happens.

January 26th, 2010: I get possession of my new place and it feels like home from the moment I get the keys.

Monday, February 8th, 2010: I move in!

But today is Saturday Feb.6th and I feel like I've gone mad! So many thoughts have been swarming around my head. I've been running around like a crazy dude. I keep forgetting stuff. I have lost my blackberry and keys about 10 times today! I need to tape my packing tape gun to my leg so I stop misplacing it! I am doing 10 things at once and I often start one thing and then another and then another and then another and then I forget what I started doing in the first place. I am so afraid of misplacing something or something breaking in the move. Is this normal? When did I become so paranoid? How the hell did I ever manage to do this in 2008, only 4 months before leaving for the Olympics. Wow!

I am really looking forward to having all of my stuff in my new place and being DONE!

Sometimes it's hard to enjoy the process...

But I've been very lucky. I've had so much awesome help in getting my old place packed and prepped for my renters and also in getting my new place ready for move in. I need to thank Kristin, Amba, Carol, Maurice and Michelle for all of their professional painting, toilet changing, cleaning, packing, space bagging, sorting, light changing, decision making and support! Thank you!!

I needed to write this so I could go to sleep. All of this was running through my brain and I just needed to get it out.

Stay tuned for new place updates...

And FYI, I am not getting Floors R Us to put in hardwood in this new place! Hahahaha! (refer back to April and May 2008 posts for a reminder of this escapade!)

Kyle

Olympic Torch Relay Pictures

These pictures are courtesy of my friend and colleague, Jenn Isbister. Thanks Jenn!

What an awesome night!

I'm Running The Olympic Torch, Baby!

My first Olympic experience that I can recall was in 1988 when the Games were held in my hometown of Calgary. I can remember being 5 years old, sitting in my kindergarten class and learning that we were going to have a chance to watch some of the speed skating training. It was a cool experience...cool as in 'awe inspiring', and cool as in 'I remember how freezing my toes were when we were watching these people with huge legs skate laps around and around the Olympic Oval'. C'mon, I was only 5 years old. Cold made me have to pee really bad! In fact, it still does....

Another memory I have of those Games was when my parents took my brother and I just outside of the city limits to a town called Airdrie to watch the Olympic Flame on it's journey into the city. I remember getting a red candle holder that symbolized the torch and I can still picture myself tromping around my parents kitchen afterwards pretending that I was an Olympic torch bearer.

Well folks; tonight, that childhood dream is coming true. I finally get my chance to carry the Olympic flame!

I have been doing a lot of thinking about why this is such a special occasion...that makes me tear up just thinking about it! What exactly does the Olympic Flame represent and why is this experience so important?

To me, the Olympic Flame represents humanity. It is a symbol of the entire world coming together in celebration of excellence. Together, we are one and we all have the potential to do extraordinary things. The Flame started in Greece many months ago and it has traveled across the world, igniting passion and togetherness in everyone that has had the chance to see it.

The Olympic flame represents dreams. There are many individuals who's dreams will be sparked or who's dreams will have a dose of fuel added to them after seeing the flame burn.

The Flame represents opportunity. Thousands of athletes around the globe have been training their lifetime for a single moment and a single chance...but we all know that, in the end, the journey is the where the BIG rewards are gained! I think the Olympic Flame is a reminder of that.

The Flame is a symbol of courage. To me, it yells, "Relentlessly pursue your dream! Never give up! Never stop believing that you can make a difference! You always have support! Be YOUR absolute best in every moment of every day"! Those are powerful messages and messages that flood through my mind when I see the flame being passed along, continually burning and always ignited.

Maybe the strongest message that I get from the Olympic Torch is the power of momentum. As the flame gets closer to Vancouver it seems as if there is more excitement and anticipation with every step. As the flame gets passed along the route, it gets one person closer to arriving in Vancouver and symbolizing the start of the Games. The countdown is on and I have faith that all of my fellow Canadian Olympians are getting into warrior mode and are ready to be at their best in less than a month!

I am beyond overwhelmed and honoured that I get a chance tonight to represent my family, my friends, my supporters, my community, my city, my province, my country and our world.

Who would have known that that little boy who dreamt of carrying the torch would go on to compete in 3 Olympic Games...and even win at one of them! I have a feeling that tonight is going to be an emotional, powerful and breath taking experience in so many ways. I have invited a ton of people to come and share in the magic of tonight. I can't wait to run, smile, dance, high five and celebrate the Olympic Spirit and Canada!

Here are the details of my run if you are able to make it:

When: 6:07pm

Where: 17th Avenue SE starting at Macleod Trail and ending at Centre Street in Calgary

...or you can watch it all online at: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/follow-torch/index.html

Wish me luck! Tonight's going to be AWESOME!

Go Canada Go!

Kyle

100 Days Out - Vancouver 2010 : My Advice To Canada's Athletes

Holy Crap! Only 100 more days and we are going to be having a PARTY in Canada! It's hard to believe that in 100 more days, all of the build up and hype will be unfolding right before our eyes. What stories will be told? Who will have their Olympic dream come true? Who will see their Olympic dreams dashed? What will be THE story of the Games? There are so many answers that will start to be revealed in only 100 days...I can't wait!

Being an athlete that got to live in the experience of a few "100 days out from the Olympics", I wanted to write a blog to give a little advice to my fellow Olympians preparing for the BIG show in Vancouver...that are only 100 days away:) (I wonder how many times I will say that in this post and still look at it and think it looks weird? 100 days...yup, still weird).

My first piece of advice: You are feeling what you are feeling because you really care.

If you have been doing everything right, then 100 days should make you excited...and it should also scare the crap out of you. It should make you excited because it's been the biggest event on your horizon for years. It's kind of like Christmas for a 5 year old. On the other hand, or on the same page, whatever way you choose to look at it, it should scare the crap out of you because it's been the biggest event on your horizon for years! You've invested your life into it. It really matters to you. What I've learned is that things are a little scary (or a lot scary) when you really care about them. Trust that your fear is actually a sign that this is important to you and totally worth it.

I don't know what it is about the 100 day out mark that makes everything seem so much more real. It might be the fact that tomorrow the countdown will be in double digits and, like that cute little boy on the Disney commercial who is "too excited to sleep", visions of the 'real' thing happening are probably running through your mind when you are trying to get some rest. I will tell you that for 100 days before I competed in Athens, every night I dreamt about standing on the podium...

Next piece of advice: BE who you want to become starting right NOW.

Every breath you have taken leading up to this point has been one breath closer to the Games, but now, for some odd reason, it seems like each breath counts and matters just a wee bit more. And I'll tell ya, be aware of that and use it to your advantage. With each breath you take, make sure it is one that exudes confidence, and carries you forward exactly the way you want to be when you step into your event in Vancouver. Start putting yourself in those pressure situations NOW so that when you are there and it's the real deal, it will just feel like another competition day.

More Advice: Journal. Journal. Journal.

One thing that I loved to do about 3 months out of any big competition was to start a journal. I would record thoughts, feelings, training plans, frustrations, celebrations and various other things that flooded on to the page. I did this for a few reasons. 1: It held me accountable. You don't lie to yourself in your own journal. Why would you? 2: It gave me confidence to look back and see the work I'd done. On those days when things just weren't falling in to place the way I had hoped, my entries reminded me that this was just one bad day that was preceded by 10 great ones. It gave me great perspective. 3: It was so awesome to vent. Sometimes all you have to do is write out your problems and they disappear. 4: It made me reflect and was almost like meditation. I would write small cues that I needed to think of while doing my routines and the more I wrote them, the more I started to apply them in training. 5: Every day at the top of the page I would write how many days were left until my event and it was a constant reminder to make that day count.

The most diligent I had ever been with a journal was in 2003 before the World Championships. I wrote in it 2 times a day, every day. I literally saw my gymnastics transform while going through the journaling process.

Next piece of advice: Enter Warrior Mode.

100 days before the Games is your chance to turn on that inner warrior. This is your time to be selfish. This is your time to do everything you can possibly do in order to look back on that day you compete and have NO regrets. Eat right. Think right. Sleep right. Picture yourself having your best performance. Say no to beer. Say no to late nights. Say no to procrastination. Start being more focused on a daily basis. Start saying no to interviews and photo shoots if they don't fit into your training schedule (in fact, allot time slots that are dedicated solely to media and that is the only time they can hear your wisdom). Start a blog to share your thoughts. Start video taping your training and watching it back and pretending you are watching the Olympic Champion train! Be picky and correct your mistakes. Imagine the possibilities. Embrace the barfing feeling you get when you think of competition day...I guarantee you that you will feel it on competition day so you may as well start realizing that it will be your sign that you are going to give it everything you have.

I heard something the other day that really stood out to me. Someone said that you never want to look back on a moment and wish you could have done a little more. So don't even make that an option. Give it your all!

Next piece of advice: Realize that you are a weirdo, but an inspiring one!

100 days out can become a precarious time dealing with friends and family who are not immersed in the warrior like state of preparing to win the Olympics. Unless they have been in your position, they just don't get it. I have to tell you, in everyone elses eyes, you are an inspiring weirdo. How can you be so singularly focused on ONE thing? Guess what? That is why you are going to the Olympics and they aren't. Friends and family are very important, mine were always my biggest supporters, but in these last 100 days they need to realize that your priority is your preparation and sometimes they are going to have to take a back seat...those that know you and love you will understand when you get frustrated over a stupid little thing. This is the most intense time of your life and all of your senses are heightened. I would give everyone a little heads up and tell them that you'll be back to your "normal" self when your mission of "being the best in the world" is complete. They'll understand.

Next piece of advice: Take some time to give back.

Yes, I know I have been advocating selfishness thus far, but it's very important to balance that with a little giving back. They say that the secret to living is giving. Allot a little time to a charity project, to a school visit or to a fundraiser. Doing good things for others is fuel for our well-beings. This will also help you stay connected to the community and make you feel empowered when you realize how much support Canadians are sending your way! Bad days in sport don't really seem all that bad when you see someone who hasn't eaten in a couple of days. True story. It will make you appreciate your position as a Canadian athlete a lot more, that's for sure.

More advice: When someone asks you if you are ready for the Games (and they will!!!), use this answer:

"I'm not ready today, I won't be ready tomorrow, but I will be at my best on ___________ (insert your competition day here), the day when being ready really matters". And when you say it, smile with your eyes and really believe it. They'll shut up.

I found it quite funny after I won in Athens because some people called it a fluke. Some said that I got lucky because I had a stellar routine that day. What they didn't realize was that I had planned, for 16 years of my life, to have a STELLAR routine on that day, at that time, in that exact circumstance.


And, my final piece of advice for athletes heading in to Vancouver in 100 days: Realize that expectation is earned.

People don't expect great things from those who aren't capable of achieving them. In a weird way, we earn expectation. The Nation is expecting great things from you because you have proven that you are capable of GREATNESS! Turn expectation into a positive and believe in your own potential. Who cares what other people think anyways, what's really important is whether or not you have that expectation for yourself!


And there you have it. A little advice for my fellow Olympians. I hope some of it comes in handy!



As the days pass and we come closer and closer to these Vancouver 2010 Games materializing, I wanted to wish all of Canada's athletes a safe and brilliant preparation. I, along with millions of Canadians, am sending you good vibes and can't wait to see it all unfold starting in 100 days!

Kyle