4-time world championship medallist and reigning Olympic champion Damian Warner has been chosen to his fourth Olympic Video games. In Paris subsequent month, the 34-year-old says he has no plans of slowing down; he goals to defend his decathlon title, and to do it in type.
After successful gold in entrance of an empty stadium in Tokyo as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, what excites Warner probably the most about Paris 2024 is the unbelievable environment he missed out on throughout his victory in 2021. “Pondering again to my superb experiences on the Olympics, it’s in 2012, strolling right into a stadium filled with 80,000 folks,” Warner says. “You simply can’t replicate that environment wherever else.”
The London, Ont., native nonetheless placed on a present on the 2021 Video games for the net spectators, successful with an Olympic document of 9,018 factors and turning into solely the fourth decathlete in historical past to attain over 9,000. He has his sights set on the highest of the rostrum as soon as once more, to deliver residence Olympic gold for Canada.
Regardless of his lengthy listing of accomplishments, Warner says he’s not able to name it quits. He has by no means received a world decathlon title, and the 4 World Championship medals he has earned haven’t left him happy. (On the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Ore., he was main on Day 1 of competitors however suffered an damage and was compelled to withdraw. Warner says he’s nonetheless decided to deliver residence a gold medal from the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Earlier than he hangs up his 5 pairs of spikes (that’s what number of completely different pairs of footwear required for the ten decathlon occasions), Warner additionally aspires to interrupt Kevin Mayer’s decathlon world document of 9,126 factors.
“The factor that will make me happiest is strolling away alone phrases,” Warner says. “Lots of athletes finish their careers due to an damage, or as a result of they aren’t completely satisfied. This sport has given me a lot; all of the folks which are necessary to me in my life have come from sport, and I’d love to have the ability to return to the Video games to look at as a spectator.”
When leaving his mark on Canadian monitor and area, the Olympic champion wish to be identified for being himself, competing exhausting, representing his group as finest he can and respecting others. “Inspiring others to pursue their desires could be an enormous constructive,” Warner says. Rising up watching athletes like sprinter Donovan Bailey compete, Warner understands the numerous influence that he might have on the following era. “If they’ve one thing to attain sooner or later, something is feasible.”
Warner is just not taking his fourth Olympics frivolously, and he’s simply as excited and decided as he was the primary time round for London 2012. Surrounded by packing containers of Lululemon gear (Warner’s sponsor and the official clothes shop of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic groups), he says it appears like Christmas morning. “Whenever you see all of your Crew Canada gear, there’s a second of delight. And I feel it’s properly deserved, as a result of the journey to get there’s not straightforward.”
For aspiring Olympians, Warner passes on the identical phrases his mother advised him: you are able to do something you set your thoughts to. For first-timers headed to Paris, he says, “You belong there. Perceive that you’ve labored exhausting for this, your coaches have labored exhausting for this and also you need to go on the market and symbolize your nation proudly.” At his first Video games, it took him till the top to understand that he slot in, competed properly, and might be proud, irrespective of the consequence.
Even after competing at three Olympic Video games, Warner may be very a lot trying ahead to his fourth. “It nonetheless hasn’t gotten previous,” he says. “I can not wait to compete my hardest.”
