For Canadian Olympian Kieran Lumb, Training Means Teamwork

With the Paris 2024 Olympics rapidly approaching — running July 26th to August 11th of this year — it’s time to get excited. Canada’s pool of athletes is filled with both veteran and rookie contenders alike, all looking to bring home the gold. SHARP has been in chatting with a several of Team Canada’s athletes over the last few weeks to get a bit of a temperature check of the excitement and anticipation as they get ready for competition.

For our next instalment we tracked down Kieran Lumb, the Vancouver-based hopeful looking to conquer this year’s 1500m running competition. After quite a bit of domestic success, including setting a number of Canadian running records, Lumb seems well positioned to take on the international competition.

Can you walk us through your journey to the Olympics? From when you started competing, through to how you came to join the Canadian Olympic team?

My journey to the Olympics was a little different than the “traditional” route. Growing up, and through high school, my primary athletic focus was cross-country ski racing. [Later], the coach at UBC reached out and recommended that I consider coming to UBC and switching my focus to running.

After I finished my degree at UBC, I had another year of eligibility to compete. So, I decided to do a masters at the University of Washington, where I learned a lot about competing in the NCAA (the American collegiate league). My coach there, Andy Powell, helped develop me from more of a 5k/10k athlete into a 1500m runner — which turned out to be a distance I really enjoyed, and one I found success in.

This past year, I finished my eligibility and signed a professional contract to represent the Swiss running company On. They offered me a unique option to stay and train with the same coach, in the same environment that had been working well for me. They’ve been a fantastic company to work with, and they’ve supported me very well — both on and off the track.

With Paris right on the horizon, how are you feeling? Is it excitement, is it nerves?

I’m absolutely thrilled to be representing Canada on the biggest stage in our sport. I’d say it’s a mixture of excitement and nerves, which are both big parts of being an athlete! These opportunities don’t come around very often in our sport, so it’s a very special time.

How has your training regimen changed as you get closer to the games?

Navigating this final phase of prep [means] keeping sight of what got you to this point, and not changing what’s been working for you. I’ve found that surrounding yourself with the right people is one of the most important things.

Right now, I’m based in Leuven, Belgium, with a number of teammates that I live and train with in Seattle. Of course, with the Olympics on the horizon, the intensity is dialled up — but getting the most out of yourself doesn’t always mean training harder. A lot of it is about listening to your body and training smarter.

Have you spent much time in Paris before, and are you able to have some free time in the city after you compete?

I have been to Paris a few times! Growing up in Vancouver, my parents put me in French immersion school until I went to high school. So, hopefully, I’ll have an opportunity to practice some French. From what everyone has told me about the Olympics, it’s a full-on experience. I’m really excited to feel the city’s energy for the games.

What are you looking forward to most as you head into the competition?

It’s a special privilege to represent your country on the biggest stage in the sport. I’m really excited for this opportunity to showcase the work I’ve put in — not only this past year, but also the work along the entire journey to this point. I’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of amazing people in my corner, believing in me. I’m excited to represent them as well!

Do you have any advice for other athletes out there who are hoping to make it to the Olympics one day?

One thing I think of, when going into competitions, is [that] they’re all stepping stones to the next [competition]. Of course some races are important and carry with them a lot of pressure, but they’re still simply steps on the path. Surrounding yourself with the right team of people — people who believe in you, keep you balanced, and support you — is incredibly important as well.

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