Olympic Athlete Interview: Nick Tritton

Judoka Nick Tritton didn't even need to compete in the final qualifier for the London Olympics this year - his points total on the world ranking list secured him a spot before those bouts ever took place. A member of the Canadian National Judo Team, he has been ranked 7th in the world in his weight category, beaten the world champion, and taken home medals from the World Cup, Pan American Games, and Grand Slams in Tokyo and Moscow.

He took a moment off the mats to talk to us about leading an active lifestyle and encouraging others to do the same.

BMP: What achievements are you most proud of?

NT: The fact that I won back to back medals at the Tokyo Grand Slam. Not a lot of people have heard of it, but for me it’s bigger than World Championships or Olympics, because each country can have more than one entry. So Japan – a Judo powerhouse – had four guys, and I won both in 2009 and 2010. Only one other Canadian has ever done that [Nick was the first], so I’m really proud of that one.

BMP: Do you think Canada’s top athletes have anything in common with the general population who want to get fit?

NT: We’re the same human beings as anyone else! Sure, there are people who are born with talent or ability in certain fields, but I truly believe that a huge part of being successful is about mindset. I wasn’t actually that good at Judo when I was younger! But I wanted it badly. I think the difference between top athletes and the general population may be that we don’t give up as easily as other people.

BMP: Are there days where you don’t feel like training? In those moments, what motivates you/what advice would you give to those who can’t seem to get motivated?

NT: Everyone has their ups and downs – any athlete who tells you they always look forward to training is lying…! For example, I’ve been plagued by injury for the past year and a half, so some days are easier than others. I think having support is key – you can’t do it on your own. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. Anyone who takes something like an Olympic medal takes it not for themselves, but for their entire team.

BMP: What are your top tips for those who want to lead a more active lifestyle but don’t know where to start?

NT: I think there are so many things in the community – the local gym, personal trainers, and adult sports leagues – things you don’t need any great skill to join.

BMP: What’s your favourite healthy snack?

NT: Surprisingly, my diet is not that strict! I tend to eat whatever’s in the refrigerator…! But I do like fruit – especially berries.

BMP: Many people are concerned that our schoolchildren are not as active as they should be – if you could implement one initiative in Canadian schools what would it be?

NT: After-school sports – it’s really sad that in a lot of places in Canada these are only available at the private schools. I hear a lot about the government struggling with mounting healthcare costs – well, pump money into sports for six and seven year-olds and we won’t have those costs in the long run.

BMP: What for you is the number one benefit to leading an active life?

NT: Sports have made me an extremely organized person. With my life so scheduled in order to fit in training, competition, and time for my family – I really can’t be late or unorganized. So it has really made me prioritize the things that are important to me.

BMP: What’s your favourite ‘active health’ activity to do on a day off from training?

NT: I like snowboarding in the winter, but I have to always consider the time of year, upcoming competitions, and the chances of getting injured. I golf too – that’s safer!

Olympic Athlete Interview: François-Louis Tremblay

One of just two Canadian men to win five Winter Olympic medals - two in one night at the Vancouver 2012 games - François-Louis Tremblay is a speed skater who has proven that determination and talent combined can be a force to be reckoned with. Excelling in both individual and relay short-track events, Tremblay has also taken home gold from World Championships and World Cups - not surprising for someone who started speed-skating at the age of four!

He took on our BMP questionnaire last week and has plenty of inspiration that will get you up and active, even if it's in warmer conditions than an ice rink!

BMP: What achievements are you most proud of?

FLT: Obviously I am very proud of my five Olympic medals - any Olympic race is really a career highlight. But what I'm really proud of is the fact that I took a two year break from competing at the top level and then came back - no one's ever done that before. Once you drop down, there are people who don't believe you'll ever be a champion again, so proving those people wrong and showing the world I could do it was as good as a gold medal.

BMP: Do you think Canada’s top athletes have anything in common with the general population who want to get fit?

FLT: I believe that anyone can be sucessful in sport. For me it all started because I wanted to do something fun. I think if you keep holding onto that sense of fun you can achieve anything.

BMP: Are there days where you don’t feel like training? In those moments, what motivates you/What advice would you give to those who can’t seem to get motivated?

FLT: I think that the key is to think long term, about the pleasure of achieving what you've been working towards. Think of the satisfaction you'll feel at the end. For me, that feeling is incomparable - it's like a drug.

BMP: What are your top tips for those who want to lead a more active lifestyle but don’t know where to start?

FLT: Keep it simple in the beginning. Travel around on foot, or by bike. Get rid of the car for a while, you'll soon realise that the city is not that big. I would advise people who are having a hard time with motivation to avoid the gym, because it often feels like a chore, or a duty. Machines are not made to be fun. Get outside, that's really important.

BMP: What’s your favourite healthy snack?

FLT: I really like yogurt with cereal and strawberries.

BMP: Many people are concerned that our schoolchildren are not as active as they should be – if you could implement one initiative in Canadian schools what would it be?

FLT: I think that there should be more competitions. I have very strong memories of sporting competitions when I was in grade four. They motivate you to push yourself and beat people - we all have a natural competitive side. 'Play time' once per week can become boring - make kids compete and we'll see them take pleasure in being active.

BMP: What for you is the number one benefit to leading an active life?

FLT: I really see the difference physically - compared to friends my age who are not active. It gives you energy, keeps you going, and keeps you young.

Photo: Jimmy Francour

BMP: What’s your favourite ‘active health’ activity to do on a day off from training?

FLT: Often when I have a day off it really has to be a day off, so I can recover. But like a lot of athletes, I do love surfing - it's a great workout and it's a lot of fun.

Olympic Athlete Interview: Caroline Calvé

Caro Calvé on the slopes (Pictures by Olivier Krauss)

Caro Calvé is truly an inspiration. A latecomer to snowboarding, she has taken the sport by storm over the past four years, as a top ten finisher in three World Championships, a two-season Canadian Champion, and a competitor at the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver. Her breathtaking career highlight came in December of last year, when she became the first Canadian female to take home a snowboarding World Cup. A native of Aylmer, Quebec, Caro is beautiful, smart, extremely articulate, and best of all, full of great advice for those of us who want to get moving - we couldn't ask for a better role model!  

BMP: What achievements are you most proud of?

CC: I didn’t take up snowboarding until I was 22, and nine years later I was competing at the Olympics. Before that, I was a skier, but I was very intimidated by competition. I’m proud that I took that leap, even though snowboarding was a very young sport. I am also very proud of winning the World Cup, as it is something that had never been done by a Canadian woman in that discipline.

BMP: Do you think Canada’s top athletes have anything in common with the general population who want to get fit?

CC: Athletes are all normal people! The reason we achieve what we do is that we are determined, the same as someone who, for example, earns a doctorate degree. It’s just that our goals are very physical. But it’s just like achieving anything else – I’m a strong believer that if you want something badly enough, you can get it.

 BMP: Are there days where you don’t feel like training? In those moments, what motivates you/what advice would you give to those who can’t seem to get motivated?

CC: Believe me, there are lots of times when I don’t feel like training, especially in the activities that are harder for me, like sprinting. What I’ve realized though, is that I’m most satisfied and proud when I do the things I hate doing – when I push myself harder it creates a feeling of confidence and self-assurance. I think it’s really important to challenge yourself and to try to achieve that. The harder you push, the more you get out of it. My advice is – when it’s hard and you don’t feel like it, stop looking at the big picture and think about the small steps. When you don’t feel like going for a run, just get dressed. Then go outside. Then start walking. Focus on the process.

BMP: What are your top tips for those who want to lead a more active lifestyle but don’t know where to start?

CC: My advice would be to start with things that are easy to do near where you live. Go for a long walk, then try speed walking. Concentrate on small, obtainable goals that are convenient. Also, involve people around you – that’s such a great motivator.

BMP: What’s your favourite healthy snack?

CC: I really like to eat fruits, and they fill me up and offer the vitamins I need. I also love to bake, so I’ll try to find healthier versions of the recipes I love. I make a great banana cake that has very little sugar and fat – with yogurt, bio six-grain flour, dark chocolate and nuts. 

BMP: Many people are concerned that our schoolchildren are not as active as they should be – if you could implement one initiative in Canadian schools what would it be?

Caro Calvé (Picture by Claude Brazeau)

I think kids should have a minimum of one hour a day allocated to exercise. Give them play time and they will normally run around of their own accord.

BMP: What for you is the number one benefit to leading an active life?

CC: It keeps me sane! The benefits for me are much more than physical. It clears my mind, gives me energy, and makes me more confident, self-assured and proud of myself.

BMP: What’s your favourite ‘active health’ activity to do on a day off from training?

I have a dog, so I’m often out walking. I also like mountain biking – I don’t see it as training because it’s fun. Mainly, I love doing things with the people I love to be around.

Olympic Athlete Interview: Nate Brannen

Nate Brannen, centre, representing Canada at the Beijing Olympics, 2008

Runner Nate Brannen broke the four-minute mile barrier when he was still in high school in Cambridge, Ontario - one of just seven athletes in North America ever to do so. Since then, Nate has smashed numerous records on the professional circuit, and has represented his country at the Beijing Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and World Track and Field Championships. He has his eye on the podium in London this summer, and is currently training hard for the Canadian Olympic Trials, which happen June 27-30 in Calgary.

BMP:  What achievements are you most proud of?

NB: The fact that I was a Silver Medalist at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 1500m, and that I am a 2008 Olympian, 1500m

BMP:  Do you think Canada’s top athletes have anything in common with the general population who want to get fit?

NB: Yes, both have the ability to get fit but it’s those who take the initiative to do something about their situation that accomplish their goals.

BMP: Are there days where you don’t feel like training? In those moments, what motivates you/what advice would you give to those who can’t seem to get motivated?

NB: Sure, but I have very strong goals for myself and I know that I will never achieve them by sitting on my butt and not getting out there and training. The best advice I could give is that you can’t focus only on the process but think about the final goal. No one ever said achieving your goals would be easy but most can say that the outcome was well worth the hard work and dedication it took to get there.

BMP:  What are your top tips for those who want to lead a more active lifestyle but don’t know where to start?

NB: One major tip is goal setting. I try to tell people to set current goals, yearly goals and future goals. This way you are always able to reach a goal but also have something to strive for at the end. Some people tend to set their goals too high which makes them unachievable, so they give up in the process.

BMP: What’s your favourite healthy snack?

NB: My favourite healthy snack is quinoa with garbanzo beans, tomato, feta cheese, a small amount of olive oil and a pinch of salt.

BMP: Many people are concerned that our schoolchildren are not as active as they should be – if you could implement one initiative in Canadian schools what would it be?

NB: Healthier snack options at school and emphasis on physical education and how fun it is instead of making it something kids come to dislike because of testing.

BMP:  What for you is the number one benefit to leading an active life?

NB: Feeling healthy - simple as that.

BMP: What’s your favourite ‘active health’ activity to do on a day off from training?

NB: Unfortunately in training season, a day off is exactly that, a complete day off from any activity. This gives my body a chance to recover from the stress I place on it day in and day out. I live a very active lifestyle. outside of running I enjoy walks, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, basically anything that is active and gets me out of the house.

Olympic Athlete Interview: Michael Tayler

First up in our series of interviews with inspirational Canadian athletes is kayaker Michael Tayler. At just 20 years old, this Ottawa native claimed the sole Canadian berth for a kayaker in London this summer by finishing his qualifying run just 0.1 of a second ahead of his nearest competitor.

In our exclusive Bloomberg Manulife Prize interview, he tells us a little about what being active and healthy means to him, and offers tips on getting motivated, even if your goals are a little more modest than the next Olympic Games!  

BMP: What achievements are you most proud of?

MT: I am most proud of winning the Canadian Olympic Selection race this year and earning the only spot for men’s kayak to represent Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. I went out and raced for myself and that ended up being good enough to win it all!

BMP: Do you think Canada’s top athletes have anything in common with the general population who want to get fit?

MT: Like the general population we are always looking to set goals for ourselves, whether it be getting stronger, faster, losing or gaining weight. It is just as difficult for athletes to get that ‘extra edge’ they are looking for as it is for someone to make a change in their lifestyle. The feeling of success is the same for everyone, whether that goal is to win a gold medal, run a 10k for the first time, or loose 10lbs.

BMP: Are there days where you don’t feel like training? In those moments, what motivates you/ what advice would you give to those who can’t seem to get motivated?

MT: Yes, all the time. When you wake up in the morning and it’s cold outside, often the last thing you want to be doing is going to the river and training, but if I know my training partners are going to be there, then I’m always there. My advice to those that can’t seem to get motivated is to get a friend or two and set a time to meet at the gym. Set small, reachable goals together, and work towards them.

BMP: What are your top tips for those who want to lead a more active lifestyle but don’t know where to start?

MT: Don’t be afraid to ask the experts! We are more than willing to help people get into the sports we love. Athletes are sports enthusiasts and like nothing better than discussing their sport and other sports with anyone willing to listen!

BMP: What’s your favourite healthy snack?

MT: Does coffee count?!


BMP: Many people are concerned that our schoolchildren are not as active as they should be – if you could implement one initiative in Canadian schools what would it be?

MT: I would try and diversify sports and fitness programming in schools. If children are introduced to a wide range of sports then there is a larger chance that they will find something they connect with and enjoy. Everyone has different athletic strengths and so just because a kid isn’t good at one sport, they can still excel in another.


BMP: What for you is the number one benefit to leading an active life?

MT: The number one reason for me is the feeling of being fit and healthy.

BMP: What’s your favourite ‘active health’ activity to do on a day off from training? 



Michael  hiking the Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand

MT: Really….my favourite way to relax on a day off from training is by watching TV and playing video games! Outside of training, one of my favourite things to do while I’m travelling is go on a cool hike. While I was training in New Zealand this year, I hiked the Tongariro Crossing, which was an amazing experience.