Damian Warner climbed the heights of athletic excellence last summer, capturing an Olympic title in the decathlon – the event that unofficially crowned the “World’s Greatest Athlete”.
But the 32-year-old from London, Ont., Has not lost even the smallest of his drive. With the goal posts for success constantly changing, Warner continues to find reasons to be excited, and ways to push himself.
This weekend, for example, Warner can not wait to see how fast he can run.
Warner will compete in the Heptathlon at the World Indoor Track and Field Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. The Indoor Event features a 60-meter sprint instead of the Decathlon 100, in which Warner holds the unofficial Decathlon world record of 10.12 seconds.
“Part of my nervousness that I have is that I like to see where some of these events are because it’s hard to say in practice,” Warner said in a phone interview from Belgrade. “I’ve only run the 60 a few times [ever]. I know I’m much faster than my personal best, but I do not know what time I will be able to run.
“Hopefully I can get out there and run a time that is much faster than what I have run in the past.”
Warner has not driven a 60 since 2018. He had not run since 2014.
Just being able to travel and compete, Warner said, feels like a luxury. Founded by Canada’s narrow travel restrictions at COVID-19, Warner spent most of his last two years training at the frigid, cut-off Farquharson Arena as Western University closed – making his Golden Olympics all the more remarkable.
These are the first indoor world championships in four years. Originally planned for March 2020 in Nanjing, China, they were one of the first international events to be postponed due to the pandemic. Planned for 2021 in Nanjing, they were demolished once again.
“Sure, when you consider the last two years when you get the opportunity to travel and participate, there is always something on what you are asking for, and you do not take it for granted because you know it can stop at any moment.
“So yeah, it’s definitely a lot of fun, and I think all the athletes on the team are really happy to be here.”
Warner took a three-month break after the Olympics. He appreciated the time with his son Theo, who got 1 year last Friday.
“He’s been walking for nine months, now he’s climbing on the coach, running around and throwing balls and things around,” Warner laughed. “It’s crazy how fast he grows.”
He also devoted a lot of time to media interviews and sponsorship obligations. He threw out the first pitch at a Blue Jays game, stood at field level during the CFL Gray Cup game in Hamilton, and participated in Raptors games. But after the dismissal, he was “ready” to be back on track.
“But at the same time, it was still a bit complicated to find the first time for motivation just because the World Cup [this summer in Eugene, Ore.] is still so far away, “he said.” Competitions like these help break this up. So we can have small checkpoints during the season, and it’s not just focused on something that happens in July.
While Warner is winning for the World Cup this summer, the world inside, he said, is not necessarily the biggest priority this season, but it’s great for preparation and measuring where he is.
“It’s also a contest that we can get our feet wet again, because since Tokyo we’ve only been training, and that can break down after a while,” he said. “So, it’s a cool opportunity to get involved, test where some of our events are and see what needs to be adjusted as we progress. But we’m sure here to win at the same time.
Warner said he and coach Gar Leyshon put a lot of energy into jumping events – mainly pole vault, but also high jump and long jump – and believe there are plenty of points to be gained. Warner’s long jump in Tokyo would have earned him a bronze medal in the men’s long jump.
Warner’s competitor and world record holder in the decathlon, Kevin Mayer from France, will not appear in Serbia due to injury. The Canadian won silver behind Mayer at the 2018 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England.
The Olympic champion this weekend leads an experienced team of 18 Canadian athletes.
Toronto midfielder Gabriela DeBues-Stafford had an exceptional indoor season, breaking her own Canadian record in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters. Her 5,000 time is the fastest in the world this year. It is in fifth place out of 3,000 competing in Serbia.
The ladies 4×400 relay – with a pool of runners including Natassha McDonald, Lauren Gale, Kyra Constantine, Micha Powell and Sage Watson – was able to climb the medal podium after finishing fourth in Tokyo.
Add Comment