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How it all started:
As a Kitchener native, father of two, and former D1 NCAA Track and Field (triple jump) athlete, I've had a goal to make it to the Olympics from the age of 5. I knew this dream was achievable at 17 when I came 11th at World Juniors and secured an OFFSA record under my name.
Driven by this Olympic goal and with the support of my teenage sweetheart (now wife), our family (including my 5 month old daughter at the time) packed up and moved our lives to Florida to train with a new coach for the 2012 Summer Olympics. I left again, this time for Europe, for months at a time in order to train with the best. However, plagued by a knee injury I forfeited training to repair my knee in hopes of another Olympics.
This wasn't my first injury, I've had my hamstring completely torn and rolled up the back of my leg, 2 knee surgeries, a bone spur and more. Track was very hard on my body, however that has never stopped my Olympic dream!
What came after track:
For years I told myself, when I retire from track, that I would try bobsleigh, how much more Canadian does it get, right? So once I officially hung up my track cleats, I started training for the Canadian Bobsleigh recruitment. Two to three times a day you can find me at the gym or track with coaches and trainers that BELEIVE in me.
In June 2016 I went to Hamilton, ON with my wife as my cheerleader for the first series of bobsleigh testing. All of the training paid off and I made the national Canadian standards. I was invited out to Calgary for the next set of testing.
One step closer to my dream:
While in Calgary I met so many great athletes and coaches that are also BELIEVING in me! I’m thriving in the team atmosphere and we are all cheering each other on. I passed the final round of testing and was invited to train and race with the Canadian team this year.
My Olympic dream is so close:
Here is the catch. Young professional athletes often have to balance full time work with full time training in order to continue to strive for our goals. And sometimes, like you, we have to make hard choices in an effort to be successful. Unfortunately there is very little funding provided to Canadian athletes. We are required to fund ourselves in areas such as: housing, travel, physiotherapy, massage, chiropractor, travel within Calgary/Whistler, food, and association fees.
Family & Life: My pregnant wife is currently working three different jobs in Ontario to support our family and my dream. I have left behind her and our two young children ages 5 and 2 , in order to pursue this dream and hopefully make them all proud of me.
When I am not trianing, you can find me spending my spare hours giving back in sport, volunteering with a variety of children sports associations in not only my home town of Kitchener-Waterloo but also on native resereves in Northern Canada.
Sponsorship: I am currently seeking out sponsors, but in the meantime could use your financial support to help me reach my goal. Any amount is one step closer. If you're unable to help me financially at this time, please continue to pray for me and my family. I’ve been so blessed with a great family that’s helping my wife and kids at home, when I have to be away. I want to compete for Canada, but mostly I want to make my home town of Kitchener-Waterloo, my family and my friends proud!
For more information about my journey please follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/kenen.shadd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenen.shadd
________
Watch one of my first bobsled pushes here:
My First Bobsleigh Push!
As a Kitchener native, father of two, and former D1 NCAA Track and Field (triple jump) athlete, I've had a goal to make it to the Olympics from the age of 5. I knew this dream was achievable at 17 when I came 11th at World Juniors and secured an OFFSA record under my name.
Driven by this Olympic goal and with the support of my teenage sweetheart (now wife), our family (including my 5 month old daughter at the time) packed up and moved our lives to Florida to train with a new coach for the 2012 Summer Olympics. I left again, this time for Europe, for months at a time in order to train with the best. However, plagued by a knee injury I forfeited training to repair my knee in hopes of another Olympics.
This wasn't my first injury, I've had my hamstring completely torn and rolled up the back of my leg, 2 knee surgeries, a bone spur and more. Track was very hard on my body, however that has never stopped my Olympic dream!
What came after track:
For years I told myself, when I retire from track, that I would try bobsleigh, how much more Canadian does it get, right? So once I officially hung up my track cleats, I started training for the Canadian Bobsleigh recruitment. Two to three times a day you can find me at the gym or track with coaches and trainers that BELEIVE in me.
In June 2016 I went to Hamilton, ON with my wife as my cheerleader for the first series of bobsleigh testing. All of the training paid off and I made the national Canadian standards. I was invited out to Calgary for the next set of testing.
One step closer to my dream:
While in Calgary I met so many great athletes and coaches that are also BELIEVING in me! I’m thriving in the team atmosphere and we are all cheering each other on. I passed the final round of testing and was invited to train and race with the Canadian team this year.
My Olympic dream is so close:
Here is the catch. Young professional athletes often have to balance full time work with full time training in order to continue to strive for our goals. And sometimes, like you, we have to make hard choices in an effort to be successful. Unfortunately there is very little funding provided to Canadian athletes. We are required to fund ourselves in areas such as: housing, travel, physiotherapy, massage, chiropractor, travel within Calgary/Whistler, food, and association fees.
Family & Life: My pregnant wife is currently working three different jobs in Ontario to support our family and my dream. I have left behind her and our two young children ages 5 and 2 , in order to pursue this dream and hopefully make them all proud of me.
When I am not trianing, you can find me spending my spare hours giving back in sport, volunteering with a variety of children sports associations in not only my home town of Kitchener-Waterloo but also on native resereves in Northern Canada.
Sponsorship: I am currently seeking out sponsors, but in the meantime could use your financial support to help me reach my goal. Any amount is one step closer. If you're unable to help me financially at this time, please continue to pray for me and my family. I’ve been so blessed with a great family that’s helping my wife and kids at home, when I have to be away. I want to compete for Canada, but mostly I want to make my home town of Kitchener-Waterloo, my family and my friends proud!
For more information about my journey please follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/kenen.shadd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenen.shadd
________
Watch one of my first bobsled pushes here:
My First Bobsleigh Push!