Canadians seek 'home turf' edge
By Michael Smith

A silver medallist at the 1991 world championships in Tokyo and a bronze medallist in Gothenburg in 1995, Michael Smith knows how to deal with pressure.

As we head into the world track and field championships, it gives me a chance to reflect on my own experiences at this illustrious event. Being there both as a competitor and as a fan has truly been a fabulous experience.

The world championships in athletics is the third largest sporting event in the world and with that you have an opportunity to see some of the best and the most diverse group of athletes in the world -- from the five-foot tall, 90-pound marathoners to the 300-pound shot putters and every type of athlete in between.

Witnessing some of the most memorable achievements in track and field history in person, you realize, as with any world class sporting event, how adrenaline comes into play. In the case of track and field, however, that adrenaline cannot be used with reckless abandon, but it has to be controlled and harnessed and utilized without interfering with technique.

This is the challenge of track and field. And for me two athletes in particular stand out in my memory in achieving this state.

In 1991 on a humid evening in Tokyo, Mike Powell put together perhaps the best long jump series in history, capped by a world record of 8.95 metres (29’4”). He competed with such composure that he was able to beat the dominant Carl Lewis for the first time in ten years.

Four years later in Gothenburg, Sweden, another athlete achieved a similar feat, this time in the triple jump. Jonathan Edwards of Great Britain was unstoppable. While his other competitors stood and watched, Edwards battled only gravity and the tape measure. By the close of the competition was over he had leapt to a new world record of 18.29 meters.

These are examples of some of the performances that could be possible in Edmonton.

To have the world Championships in our own country is a rare opportunity to experience the true essence of athletics at its very best. To witness hundreds of athletes striving to achieve their personal bests is truly awe-inspiring, and for a select few, with that personal achievement, will also come the title of World Champion.

A number of Canadians are amongst these elite, particularly on the field, including Jason Tunks (the fifth-ranked discus thrower in the world), Brad Snyder (the seventh-ranked shot putter in the world) and Mark Boswell (the 1999 world championships silver medallist in high jump). All of these men are young by track and field standards but they are already amongst the very best in the world. They’re on top of their game right now, and they also have the added advantage of being able to compete on “home turf”.

The right blend of proper training, adrenaline, and an excited response from the home crowd could launch them to achieve higher and longer personal-best results.

I have had a chance to compete at a major games on home turf, and it is an experience like no other. You always want to achieve you very best, but to do it your own country at such a huge event like the world championships is something the athletes representing Canada in Edmonton will remember for the rest of their lives.