Greater Sudbury's Celine Loyer is one young athlete who
marches to the beat of her own drum. She has to, as not too
many people can handle her pace or work load.
Under the guidance of Dharma Sports Science Group coach David
Case, Loyer has made steady headway in the track and field
scene at all levels. And she only became serious about the
sport a few years ago. The 100-metre and 200-metre sprint
specialist is coming off a long battle with leg injuries, but
she still has the drive to be one of the best in the world.
Loyer's goals are to become better every day to be at her peak
in 2012. Loyer, 19, recently took time out of her hectic
training regimen to talk with Northern Life reporter Scott
Haddow about track, life and what drives her to be one of the
best.
SH: Three years ago you weren't a major player on the
track scene. What were you doing and what was the decisive
moment that got you into track seriously?
CL: Three years ago I was a typical teenager, taking part in
various high school sports. I give a lot of credit to my high
school coach Marc Bonin for introducing me to David Case, my
current coach. I thank God every day I met David. It has
changed my life. I know what it's like to be a serious athlete
and I know what real hard work is. His style is about slow and
steady and hard work, not about making me an overnight success,
that's why he's had success at a national and international
level. Longevity is the key. My coach told me this will be a
three-to-five year commitment. He said I will have to eat,
sleep and drink track and field for four to five years, and
there will be ups and downs. I know when he worked with Robert
Esmie, Robert never even made a junior team. Through hard work
and persistence Robert became internationally known and
achieved greatness.
SH: In the last three years, what has made you so
driven and determined to do well?
CL: I'd say having an injury that has lasted a year-and-a-half
has driven me and made me stay in the game and work harder.
There is so much focus on the latest fast girl, or those who
are ahead of the pack. My goal isn't to be super quick now -
it's to be super quick in 2012. Many of the girls I ran against
in 2006 are not even major players now in this sport.
Persistence and dedication is the key. What drives me is my
love of this amazing sport of track and field.
SH: What are your goals for 2008? Why is it good to set
such high goals?
CL: My coach has always said, why make attainable goals? What
is the purpose of reaching something you can obviously reach?
Set unattainable goals, those are the ones that make you strive
harder. We are always taught in life to hit these easy goals,
well my goals are about hitting the mark four years from now.
For example my 12.09 I ran in Toronto late last summer gave me
a top-30 place in the world ranking as a junior. This year it's
about staying healthy and just finishing without feeling pain
in my leg.
SH: Where do you want to be in the next five years and
why?
CL: I would like to be ranked in the world as a major player in
this sport, running on the Euro circuit of course and
establishing my place as a prominent Canadian in track and
field. I believe staying power is the key and my goal is to
keep striving and working hard. My coach has been able to train
three Olympians and two of the three never even made a junior
team. Right now that inspires me as I watch my peers and see
who has the tenacity to stay in the sport over the next five
years. Obviously, in terms of my course at College Boreal I'd
like to be a successful massage therapist, working with high
performance athletes. College Boreal has giving me a great
platform to be a success.
SH: Does anything hold you back? What do track athletes
in Sudbury need to excel even more in your mind?
CL: The only thing that holds me back is me. Anyone in Sudbury
who is serious about track needs to train hard, keep up the
grades at school and have thick skin. They will need
dedication, a good work ethic, above-average coaching and, in
the long run, above average grades and results on the track.
Education is also important in sports. You need to be dedicated
to the improvement of your mind. This brings opportunity and
opportunity expands your mind. If you think education is
expensive, try ignorance.
SH: Is there anything that is going to stop you from reaching your goals?
CL: As I've always maintained the only thing that can stop me
is me. I love this sport and thank God everyday that I have the
gift of speed. What motivates me is when young people come up
to me on the street or track and ask me questions about my
career. Many times some people in the sport locally count me
out. That motivates me to keep striving.Opinions are like bad
days: everyone's got them. I like the fact that there are some
gals out there who are quicker than me. There are gals who were
quicker than me in 2005/2006 and many of them are not even in
the sport anymore. That, to me, is why I have to be persistent.
It's not always about who is the fastest, but who has been
persistent in this game.
SH: Who has been the biggest influence in your career
and why?
CL: People like Harry Jerome, Wilma Rudolf, Jesse Owens, Ellen
DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey, Deepak Chopra and Dr. Wayne Dyer.
These are people who have beaten the odds in terms of racism
and lack of opportunity early in their careers. They have gone
beyond the call of duty in their pursuit of excellence. These
people have been blessed with mental and physical abilities to
inspire us, make us laugh and strive harder. Many people don't
know Rudolf had polio as a child and later became the fastest
female sprinter in the world. Owens was an alternate on the
United Sates Olympic team and wasn't even supposed to compete.
I love the fact these are all people who, early in their
careers, were discounted by others.
SH: What's the big event for you in 2008 and what do
you hope to do there?
CL: Due to the fact that I succumbed to a serious injury for
the last year-and-a-half, this year I just want to keep my
national rankings in the top 10 as I have in the last three
years, keep the Sudbury community on the track and field map
and build my strength so that I can represent Canada in some of
the opportunities that are available.
SH: Away from running, what do you like to do when you
get some free time?
CL: Wow Scott do you have an hour? I love hanging out with my
friends, listening to music, from R&B to Jazz, to hip hop
to '70s funk music, I'm a cooking show fanatic, I love to watch
cooking shows. I love a good game of pool. I love a good laugh
and especially people with a good sense of humour. I'm also a
huge fan of dancing. Whenever I get the chance I love to hit up
a good club and cut the rug. It's an opportunity I don't get a
lot due to my competition and training schedule. If I can get
out for a bit of dancing once every two months I'm happy.
