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.

2011 Winner Announced!

We are delighted to announce that the winner of this year's Bloomberg Manulife Prize is Dr. Steven Blair, a leading exercise scientist who has proven that all it takes to live longer and healthier is 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day.

Widely regarded as the creator of a new area of epidemiological research linking physical activity, decreased mortality, and health benefits, Dr. Blair is a professor of exercise science at the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina. Seen as an academic leader in his field, he has advised governments and health organisations, has published over 500 scientific papers and book chapters, and is one of a handful of people outside the U.S. Public Health Service to be awarded the Surgeon General’s Medallion.

The work that won him the inaugural Bloomberg Manulife Prize is based partly on a 40-year study involving more than 80,000 individuals. His research has some fascinating conclusions, most notably, that overweight individuals who are nevertheless fit have a much lower mortality rate than slimmer individuals who are inactive.

Today, he devotes much of his time to public health issues, promoting the importance of physical activity to lay and scientific audiences around the world. He has also been influential in helping policy makers craft physical activity guidelines that promote the conclusions of his research.

To read more about Dr. Blair and the prize, check out our website: http://www.mcgill.ca/bloomberg-manulife/

Run a mile to check future heart health

The long-term benefits of exercise are common knowledge, but if you needed concrete motivation look no further: new research has found that a simple test can predict future heart health - how fast can you run a mile?

Traditional indicators of heart health in later life include cholesterol and blood pressure checks, but researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and the Cooper Institute in Dallas analysed tens of thousands of middle-aged participants and found that heart disease risk increases markedly for every minute longer it takes you to run a mile.

Dr. Jarett D. Berry, assistant professor of internal medicine and cardiology at Southwestern Medical School and a co-author of two papers outlining the research results says that the exercise you do in your 40s is highly relevant to heart disease risk in your 80s. “In both these studies, how fast you can run in midlife is very strongly associated with heart disease risk when you’re old," he confirms.

While some experts caution against risk evaluation based on just one type of exercise, and the researchers behind these recent studies do admit that more data is needed before mile-times can be used accurately, it is generally agreed that mid-life fitness is a good indicator of future health.

No recommended times have been released yet, but initial study data shows that a man in his 50s who can run a mile in 8 minutes or less, or a woman who can do it in 9 minutes or less, shows a high level of fitness. A 9-minute mile for a man and 10:30 for a woman are signs of moderate fitness; men who can’t run better than a 10-minute mile, and women slower than 12 minutes, fall into the low-fitness category.

Read the study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology here