Publisher Sue Hodgson Talks With Local Runner and Aspiring Olympian Casey Atkin –
Do you remember the moment when you knew that the Olympics was going to be your lifetime goal? Have you ever wavered or questioned if that was the right decision?
The Olympics have always been important to me; they are the biggest goal anyone can have in any sport. I didn’t know what sport was going to be my best chance. I played every sport I could growing up but in grade 11 I realized that I had the most passion for track and that I wanted to represent my country in running. I have had that moment of: “Am I doing the right thing?” but then I tell myself: “This is what I love and I’ll never regret doing something I love.” It’s all or nothing: you can’t have the slightest bit of doubt!
What does a typical week of training look like for an aspiring Olympian?
12 sessions, 40 hours, seven days a week. It involves weights, on track and off track, and recovery. Then there is the background “homework” like logs and going over race strategy. It’s a constant awareness of making sure you’re eating healthy and getting the right rest between sessions.
At such a young age – just 23! – you spend countless hours training. What would you say to a member of our younger generations striving to be one of the best, while helping them manage the stress and pressure that comes with this level of commitment?
Always enjoy what you’re doing, laugh and have a blast. Put in the hard work, and the hard work will be noticed. Make sure you’re happy. Balance in your life will help with the stress that sport brings.
You receive some funding for your expenses through Athletics Canada, but not nearly enough to survive. In what other ways have you been able to fundraise, and is finding sponsors to support you quite significant?
We get little help financially, but fundraising and sponsorships are the key for our sport. Without the help of the community we are not able to train at the level needed to represent our country! I have done a silent auction out of the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea in Sidney and a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign online a few years back; these have helped hugely. The community has been a big part in my success over the last few years, allowing me to focus and not stress about the financial burden of sport. This year Saunders Subaru funded a portion of my altitude training camp and helped with new trainers and flats. In a year we need a minimum of $15,000 to make it through a solid season. The next four years will be hard; my focus is the 2020 Olympics and every little bit of support helps.
Tell us a little about your involvement with the NextGEN program at Athletics Canada.
As a targeted athlete they provide us with support through coaching, therapy, sports psychology, facility usage and financial support. Without the support I would have never had the season I had this year. It is such a great system in our country, but it only helps cover a small percentage of the total support we need in a season.
For someone so young, you are already an incredible role model in our local community. Who was your role model growing up and why?
Wow that is a hard question! I’ve grown up with many role models. In sport from a young age I looked up to Ashely Stocks, a rugby player who was a dear friend of my sister Molly. Very down to earth and confident, it was inspiring to see how much she was respected by her peers!
Where will you be watching the 2016 Rio Olympics from? Do you have a particular athlete who you’ll be cheering on?
No matter where I am, I’ll have my laptop ready and whomever I’m with, whether it be my friends or strangers, we’ll be cheering proudly for every Canadian. I’ll be jumping up and down uncontrollably when Hilary.S, Jessica.O, Alicia.B and Melissa.B get on the start line. Over the last few years at training camps and traveling, I’ve established relationships with athletes that are at the Games and it is such a cool feeling to know them personally!
