4-time global championship medallist and reigning Olympic champion Damian Warner has been decided on 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 protect his decathlon name, and to do it in taste.
After successful gold in entrance of an empty stadium in Tokyo because of COVID-19 restrictions, what excites Warner essentially the most about Paris 2024 is the unbelievable environment he overlooked out on right through his victory in 2021. “Pondering again to my wonderful reviews on the Olympics, it’s in 2012, strolling right into a stadium filled with 80,000 folks,” Warner says. “You simply can’t mirror that environment anyplace else.”
The London, Ont., local nonetheless placed on a display on the 2021 Video games for the net spectators, successful with an Olympic file of 9,018 issues and turning into most effective the fourth decathlete in historical past to attain over 9,000. He has his attractions set at the best of the rostrum as soon as once more, to convey house Olympic gold for Canada.
Regardless of his lengthy listing of accomplishments, Warner says he isn’t able to name it quits. He hasn’t ever gained a global decathlon name, and the 4 International Championship medals he has earned haven’t left him glad. (On the 2022 International Championships in Eugene, Ore., he was once main on Day 1 of pageant however suffered an damage and was once pressured to withdraw. Warner says he’s nonetheless decided to convey house a gold medal from the 2025 International Championships in Tokyo. Ahead of he hangs up his 5 pairs of spikes (that’s what number of other pairs of trainers required for the ten decathlon occasions), Warner additionally aspires to damage Kevin Mayer’s decathlon global file of 9,126 issues.
“The item that will make me happiest is strolling away alone phrases,” Warner says. “A large number of athletes finish their careers as a result of an damage, or as a result of they aren’t glad. This recreation has given me such a lot; the entire folks which might be vital to me in my existence have come from recreation, and I’d love so to go back to the Video games to look at as a spectator.”
When leaving his mark on Canadian observe and box, the Olympic champion want to be recognized for being himself, competing arduous, representing his group as very best he can and respecting others. “Inspiring others to pursue their desires can be an enormous sure,” Warner says. Rising up observing athletes like sprinter Donovan Bailey compete, Warner understands the numerous have an effect on that he may have at the subsequent technology. “If they have got one thing to reach sooner or later, the rest is imaginable.”
Warner isn’t taking his fourth Olympics evenly, and he’s simply as excited and decided as he was once the primary time round for London 2012. Surrounded through packing containers of Lululemon equipment (Warner’s sponsor and the legitimate clothing store of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic groups), he says it looks like Christmas morning. “While you see all of your Crew Canada equipment, there’s a second of pleasure. And I feel it’s neatly deserved, since the adventure to get there isn’t simple.”
For aspiring Olympians, Warner passes at the identical phrases his mother advised him: you’ll be able to do the rest you place your thoughts to. For first-timers headed to Paris, he says, “You belong there. Keep in mind that you’ve got labored arduous for this, your coaches have labored arduous for this and also you deserve to head in the market and constitute your nation proudly.” At his first Video games, it took him till the top to understand that he are compatible in, competed neatly, and may well be proud, regardless of the end result.
Even after competing at 3 Olympic Video games, Warner could be very a lot taking a look ahead to his fourth. “It nonetheless hasn’t gotten outdated,” he says. “I can’t wait to compete my toughest.”